Li, Kvitova crash out in Cincinnati
Source: Agencies |
August 20, 2011, Saturday
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THE Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, claimed two more high-profile victims on Thursday with grand slam champions Li Na and Petra Kvitova crashing out, while Russian pair Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva crunched their opponents en route to the quarterfinals.
A day after world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, star attraction Serena Williams and third seed Victoria Azarenka exited the tournament in defeat or through injury, French Open winner Li tumbled with a 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 loss to Samantha Stosur.
Li, China's first grand slam singles winner, was also beaten last week in Toronto by the Australian, who will meet Sharapova in the last eight.
Stosur is hitting a good run of form in the run-up to the US Open, where she reached the quarterfinals last year.
"It would be the biggest title I've ever won," the 10th seed said. "It would be fantastic but there is still a fair way to go before that can happen."
Wimbledon champion Kvitova fell to emerging German talent Andrea Petkovic, ranked 11th in the world, who enjoyed a 6-3, 6-3 win in front of a smattering of fans on an outside court. On the center court, Sharapova was making quick work of compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
World No. 2 Zvonareva crunched Croatian qualifier Petra Martic 6-2, 6-2 and will face Slovak Daniela Hantuchova, who beat France's eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Another Russian, Nadia Petrova, enjoyed a 6-3, 6-3 victory over American teenager Christine McHale, who upset top seed Wozniacki in the second round.
Serbia's Jelena Jankovic twice failed to serve for the match but finally prevailed over Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Jankovic looked in charge in the second set but allowed the Italian back into the encounter and yet the Serb recovered to go 5-1 up in the third, only for her focus to slip again.
Jankovic will face China's Peng Shuai, who beat Israeli Shahar Peer in straight sets.
In the men's world No. 2 Rafael Nadal scraped into the quarterfinals after beating fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 in a fierce battle.
Seven of the top eight seeds have reached the quarterfinals with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray having little trouble.
Nadal will face Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals after the American beat France's Richard Gasquet 7-5, 7-5.
Djokovic took his season record to 55-1 with a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 win over Czech Radek Stepanek. Britain's Andy Murray had a relatively comfortable 6-2, 7-5 win over American qualifier Alex Bogomolov.
A day after world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, star attraction Serena Williams and third seed Victoria Azarenka exited the tournament in defeat or through injury, French Open winner Li tumbled with a 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 loss to Samantha Stosur.
Li, China's first grand slam singles winner, was also beaten last week in Toronto by the Australian, who will meet Sharapova in the last eight.
Stosur is hitting a good run of form in the run-up to the US Open, where she reached the quarterfinals last year.
"It would be the biggest title I've ever won," the 10th seed said. "It would be fantastic but there is still a fair way to go before that can happen."
Wimbledon champion Kvitova fell to emerging German talent Andrea Petkovic, ranked 11th in the world, who enjoyed a 6-3, 6-3 win in front of a smattering of fans on an outside court. On the center court, Sharapova was making quick work of compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
World No. 2 Zvonareva crunched Croatian qualifier Petra Martic 6-2, 6-2 and will face Slovak Daniela Hantuchova, who beat France's eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Another Russian, Nadia Petrova, enjoyed a 6-3, 6-3 victory over American teenager Christine McHale, who upset top seed Wozniacki in the second round.
Serbia's Jelena Jankovic twice failed to serve for the match but finally prevailed over Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Jankovic looked in charge in the second set but allowed the Italian back into the encounter and yet the Serb recovered to go 5-1 up in the third, only for her focus to slip again.
Jankovic will face China's Peng Shuai, who beat Israeli Shahar Peer in straight sets.
In the men's world No. 2 Rafael Nadal scraped into the quarterfinals after beating fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 in a fierce battle.
Seven of the top eight seeds have reached the quarterfinals with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray having little trouble.
Nadal will face Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals after the American beat France's Richard Gasquet 7-5, 7-5.
Djokovic took his season record to 55-1 with a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 win over Czech Radek Stepanek. Britain's Andy Murray had a relatively comfortable 6-2, 7-5 win over American qualifier Alex Bogomolov.
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