Determination, elegance on show as Li awaits Sharapova
Source: Agencies |
June 2, 2011, Thursday
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MARIA Sharapova and Li Na set up a French Open semifinal clash of styles after Russian elegance and Chinese determination powered them past their last eight opponents yesterday.
Whether it was Sharapova's yellow dress or the bright Roland Garros sun, German 15th seed Andrea Petkovic was left dazed and dazzled in a 6-0, 6-3 defeat, while Li had more of a tussle in a 7-5, 6-2 win over Belarus fourth seed Victoria Azarenka.
Dogged defending champion Francesca Schiavone or French crowd favorite Marion Bartoli await in Saturday's final but Sharapova must first negotiate a passage past fighter Li.
The first Chinese to make it this far at Roland Garros never gives up on any point.
The January's Australian Open runner-up also has the backing of millions of fans back home.
The sixth seed Li Na charged back from going a break down at 1-2 by hitting every shot with all her might so that Azarenka, a hot tip after her good form in the buildup events, just could not dictate any game.
Li repeated the same trick in the second set before surging to victory. "This is a huge surprise for me," Li told reporters.
"After I win the match I was feeling, 'Wow! I can play semi in Roland Garros,'" Li said.
"I never think about that before. So many people think I'm not so good in clay court, but I think now they should change a little bit."
To reach the final, Li will have to beat Sharapova today.
In that match, Li may be playing for more than just herself.
"(On) clay court for all Asia people (who are) not so doing well because you have to slide a lot. Also you have to play a lot of topspin," Li said. "But after this time I think all Asia people have more confident play in clay court."
Sharapova said she didn't remember the last time she played Li Na but said, "I'm very excited to be in the semifinals".
Shocked
Racing through the first set without any need for extravagance, Sharapova looked almost as shocked as her opponent but the second was more of a duel with the Russian's grunting contrasting markedly with her poise around court.
The former world No. 1 sealed her progression when Petkovic netted a routine forehand on her own serve.
Sharapova, the most experienced woman left in the draw with a title at each of the other three grand slams, last won a major in 2008 and has been hampered by injuries and illness since.
A slow start to the second grand slam of the season became a shrewd bid at peaking at the right time for the seventh seed once the top three seeds crashed out early.
Now the Russian, who has wowed the galleries with the same shade of fashionable dress each match and even came on court with a trendy handbag, is taking the tournament even more seriously with her first French Open title in sight.
The clinical performances whetted the appetite of fans on the two main courts for the remaining men's quarterfinals.
Holder Rafael Nadal plays Robin Soderling, the only man to have beaten him at Roland Garros, in a repeat of last year's final while British battler Andy Murray takes on the only unseeded player left in either draw - Juan Ignacio Chela.
Red-hot Novak Djokovic and record 16-time grand slam champion Roger Federer are already through to a dream men's semifinal.
Whether it was Sharapova's yellow dress or the bright Roland Garros sun, German 15th seed Andrea Petkovic was left dazed and dazzled in a 6-0, 6-3 defeat, while Li had more of a tussle in a 7-5, 6-2 win over Belarus fourth seed Victoria Azarenka.
Dogged defending champion Francesca Schiavone or French crowd favorite Marion Bartoli await in Saturday's final but Sharapova must first negotiate a passage past fighter Li.
The first Chinese to make it this far at Roland Garros never gives up on any point.
The January's Australian Open runner-up also has the backing of millions of fans back home.
The sixth seed Li Na charged back from going a break down at 1-2 by hitting every shot with all her might so that Azarenka, a hot tip after her good form in the buildup events, just could not dictate any game.
Li repeated the same trick in the second set before surging to victory. "This is a huge surprise for me," Li told reporters.
"After I win the match I was feeling, 'Wow! I can play semi in Roland Garros,'" Li said.
"I never think about that before. So many people think I'm not so good in clay court, but I think now they should change a little bit."
To reach the final, Li will have to beat Sharapova today.
In that match, Li may be playing for more than just herself.
"(On) clay court for all Asia people (who are) not so doing well because you have to slide a lot. Also you have to play a lot of topspin," Li said. "But after this time I think all Asia people have more confident play in clay court."
Sharapova said she didn't remember the last time she played Li Na but said, "I'm very excited to be in the semifinals".
Shocked
Racing through the first set without any need for extravagance, Sharapova looked almost as shocked as her opponent but the second was more of a duel with the Russian's grunting contrasting markedly with her poise around court.
The former world No. 1 sealed her progression when Petkovic netted a routine forehand on her own serve.
Sharapova, the most experienced woman left in the draw with a title at each of the other three grand slams, last won a major in 2008 and has been hampered by injuries and illness since.
A slow start to the second grand slam of the season became a shrewd bid at peaking at the right time for the seventh seed once the top three seeds crashed out early.
Now the Russian, who has wowed the galleries with the same shade of fashionable dress each match and even came on court with a trendy handbag, is taking the tournament even more seriously with her first French Open title in sight.
The clinical performances whetted the appetite of fans on the two main courts for the remaining men's quarterfinals.
Holder Rafael Nadal plays Robin Soderling, the only man to have beaten him at Roland Garros, in a repeat of last year's final while British battler Andy Murray takes on the only unseeded player left in either draw - Juan Ignacio Chela.
Red-hot Novak Djokovic and record 16-time grand slam champion Roger Federer are already through to a dream men's semifinal.
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