Lisicki takes on Bartoli after Radwanska stunner in last 4
Source: Agencies |
July 5, 2013, Friday
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SABINE Lisicki became the first German woman since 1999 to reach a grand slam final when she defeated Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 2-6, 9-7 yesterday in a thrilling Wimbledon semifinal at the All England Club in London.
The 24th seed Lisicki will face France's 15th-seeded Marion Bartoli, the 2007 runner-up, in tomorrow's title match looking to become Germany's first champion at a major since Steffi Graf beat Swiss Martina Hingis to claim the 1999 French Open.
Lisicki eliminated defending champion Serena Williams in the fourth round.
Fourth-seeded Radwanska had lost last year's final to Serena Williams.
Earlier, Bartoli wasted little time in advancing to her second Wimbledon final, dancing and grunting her way to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Kirsten Flipkens.
The 15th-seeded Frenchwoman led 3-0 in both sets and took 62 minutes to wrap them up. Flipkens, a Belgian seeded 20th, was in her first major semifinal.
"I was hitting the ball very cleanly from the start, right away," Bartoli said. "I had some great passing shots and some great lobs. Everything was working so perfectly. To do that in the semifinals of Wimbledon was an amazing feeling."
Bartoli also reached the final in 2007, losing to Venus Williams in straight sets. None of the this year's four semifinalists has won a grand slam title.
Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Wimbledon champion who coaches France's Fed Cup team, was in the stands for the early match and had plenty of praise for Bartoli.
"She just played a great match, definitely the best match of the tournament for her," Mauresmo said. "Marion put huge pressure on her right from the beginning, first of all returning very well, serving better, which she had to do today."
Bartoli was pumped from the start on Centre Court, mixing two-handed backhands and forehands with little hops between points, as she usually does.
In the first set, she faced only one break point, nearly putting Flipkens back on serve in the third game. But despite a double-fault and a backhand into the net to eventually get behind 30-40, Bartoli dug herself out of the hole and finished the game with the first of her five aces.
Flipkens, who again took the court with her right knee taped, called for a trainer after being broken for the second straight time at the start of the second set.
"I think maybe she was a bit injured today," Bartoli said. "It must be hard for her to be injured in the semifinal of Wimbledon, but she deserved a lot of respect."
The 24th seed Lisicki will face France's 15th-seeded Marion Bartoli, the 2007 runner-up, in tomorrow's title match looking to become Germany's first champion at a major since Steffi Graf beat Swiss Martina Hingis to claim the 1999 French Open.
Lisicki eliminated defending champion Serena Williams in the fourth round.
Fourth-seeded Radwanska had lost last year's final to Serena Williams.
Earlier, Bartoli wasted little time in advancing to her second Wimbledon final, dancing and grunting her way to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Kirsten Flipkens.
The 15th-seeded Frenchwoman led 3-0 in both sets and took 62 minutes to wrap them up. Flipkens, a Belgian seeded 20th, was in her first major semifinal.
"I was hitting the ball very cleanly from the start, right away," Bartoli said. "I had some great passing shots and some great lobs. Everything was working so perfectly. To do that in the semifinals of Wimbledon was an amazing feeling."
Bartoli also reached the final in 2007, losing to Venus Williams in straight sets. None of the this year's four semifinalists has won a grand slam title.
Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Wimbledon champion who coaches France's Fed Cup team, was in the stands for the early match and had plenty of praise for Bartoli.
"She just played a great match, definitely the best match of the tournament for her," Mauresmo said. "Marion put huge pressure on her right from the beginning, first of all returning very well, serving better, which she had to do today."
Bartoli was pumped from the start on Centre Court, mixing two-handed backhands and forehands with little hops between points, as she usually does.
In the first set, she faced only one break point, nearly putting Flipkens back on serve in the third game. But despite a double-fault and a backhand into the net to eventually get behind 30-40, Bartoli dug herself out of the hole and finished the game with the first of her five aces.
Flipkens, who again took the court with her right knee taped, called for a trainer after being broken for the second straight time at the start of the second set.
"I think maybe she was a bit injured today," Bartoli said. "It must be hard for her to be injured in the semifinal of Wimbledon, but she deserved a lot of respect."
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