Li, Kvitova to square off in Sydney semis
Source: Agencies |
January 12, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WIMBLEDON champion Petra Kvitova continued her pursuit of the No. 1 ranking by beating Daniela Hantucha 6-0, 6-4 yesterday to move into the Sydney International semifinals against French Open winner Li Na.
Kvitova, who helped Czech Republic win the Hopman Cup on the weekend, needed just over an hour to beat Hantuchova, the losing finalist last week at the Brisbane International.
Kvitova can overhaul Caroline Wozniacki atop the rankings if she wins the title this week in Sydney, a key warmup tournament ahead of the Australian Open.
Defending champion Li, who reached the Australian Open final last year before becoming the first player from China and Asia to win a grand slam singles title at Roland Garros, had a 6-2, 7-6 (3) win over Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic.
"Of course I'm feeling good," Li said. "I won in Sydney last year and this year I'm in the semis. It's just the beginning of the year, and I'm feeling much, much stronger."
No. 3-ranked Victoria Azarenka beat No. 9-ranked Marion Bartoli 7-5, 6-4 and will next play either No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki or Agnieszka Radwanska.
The two evening quarterfinals were delayed by a power outage at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.
In the men's draw, top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro had an easy straight-sets win in his opening match, while second-seeded John Isner was beaten by fellow American Bobby Reynolds.
Del Potro defeated Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 6-2. Reynolds beat Isner 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Denis Istomin of Uzbekistsan also advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 win over American Ryan Sweeting.
Kvitova, who helped Czech Republic win the Hopman Cup on the weekend, needed just over an hour to beat Hantuchova, the losing finalist last week at the Brisbane International.
Kvitova can overhaul Caroline Wozniacki atop the rankings if she wins the title this week in Sydney, a key warmup tournament ahead of the Australian Open.
Defending champion Li, who reached the Australian Open final last year before becoming the first player from China and Asia to win a grand slam singles title at Roland Garros, had a 6-2, 7-6 (3) win over Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic.
"Of course I'm feeling good," Li said. "I won in Sydney last year and this year I'm in the semis. It's just the beginning of the year, and I'm feeling much, much stronger."
No. 3-ranked Victoria Azarenka beat No. 9-ranked Marion Bartoli 7-5, 6-4 and will next play either No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki or Agnieszka Radwanska.
The two evening quarterfinals were delayed by a power outage at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.
In the men's draw, top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro had an easy straight-sets win in his opening match, while second-seeded John Isner was beaten by fellow American Bobby Reynolds.
Del Potro defeated Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 6-2. Reynolds beat Isner 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Denis Istomin of Uzbekistsan also advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 win over American Ryan Sweeting.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
