Errani stuns Li, Ivanovic also wins
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SARA Errani took advantage of a supportive crowd to beat second-seeded Li Na of China 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in Rome yesterday and reach the Italian Open semifinals for the second consecutive year.
The 10th-seeded Errani is attempting to become the first Italian woman to win the tournament since Raffaella Reggi took the title 29 years ago in Taranto.
Australian Open champion Li was unusually inconsistent, committing 52 unforced errors to Errani’s 21, and appeared rattled by a close call from the chair umpire early in the third set.
Errani celebrated by waving her arms to excite the crowd. Her semifinal opponent will be either 2007 and 2008 Rome champion Jelena Jankovic of Serbia or third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.
In another match, Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic sealed her passage into the last four with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over 13th-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro.
The 11th seed had taken out Madrid Open champion Maria Sharapova earlier.
Ivanovic will now meet either defending champion and top seed Serena Williams of the United States or China’s Zhang Shuai.
In men’s play on an overcast day at the Foro Italico, eighth-seeded Milos Raonic held off Jeremy Chardy of France 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 and will next play either second seed Novak Djokovic, who outlasted Spain’s David Ferrer, the fifth seed, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
The Canadian, considered an outside bet for the French Open later this month, admits his claycourt game is improving, but said his next challenge would prove difficult whichever player he met.
“Yes, I am doing much better on clay and I am very happy,” said Raonic. “Movements, returns, generally I am becoming better and also how I deal with the difficult situations, the mental side as well.”
Also reaching the last four was Grigor Dimitrov, who celebrated his 23rd birthday with a win when 36-year-old German Tommy Haas retired after losing the first set 2-6 due to a right shoulder injury — spoiling a matchup between the youngest and oldest players in the top 20.
Dimitrov’s semifinal opponent will be either seven-time Rome champion Rafael Nadal or Wimbledon winner Andy Murray. “It’s definitely one of the most memorable days of my life,” the Bulgarian said upon reaching his first Masters series semifinal. “I’m just a happy birthday boy today.”
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