Serena dumps Sharapova, Azarenka clash is next
Print Edition
Serena Williams extended her winning streak against Maria Sharapova to 14 matches with a 6-2, 7-6 (7) semifinal victory yesterday to earn a shot at back-to-back Brisbane International titles in Australia.
The defending champion will play second-seeded Victoria Azarenka in today’s final.
Williams improved to 15-2 against Sharapova, with both losses back in 2004.
After blowing two match points in the tiebreaker — one on her serve and another receiving — Williams sealed the win with an ace.
Azarenka overcame a shaky serve and another case of the nerves in a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over former No. 1-ranked Jelena Jankovic.
The reigning Australian Open champion dropped her first three service games and was facing three breakpoints in the opening game of the second set when she shifted the momentum with a winner she picked up on a half-volley as Jankovic missed her chance to convert the break.
After holding for the first time, second-seeded Azarenka settled down and dictated most of the remainder of the match as Jankovic wilted in the heat.
On the men’s side in Brisbane, Roger Federer gave a tennis masterclass, taking under an hour to demolish Australian Marinko Matosevic 6-1, 6-1.
“Tonight I felt very good against Matosevic who can play very dangerously,” Federer said.
The top-seeded Federer booked a semifinal against France’s Jeremy Chardy, who dropped Australian wildcard Sam Groth, 7-5, 6-4.
The second semifinal will be contested between second-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan and local crowd favorite Lleyton Hewitt.
- 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.
