Serena ousts Sharapova
Source: Agencies |
July 31, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SERENA Williams signalled her readiness for the upcoming US Open with an authoritative 6-1, 6-3 over No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, on Friday.
In a clash of two former world No. 1-ranked players, Williams put on a clinic with precision serving and a sharp ground game to get the better of the Russian.
Williams' semifinal opponent will be German Sabine Lisicki, who beat fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2.
Third-seeded Marion Bartoli of France advanced when Japan's Ayumi Morita retired after dropping the first set 6-1. Bartoli will meet eighth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, who beat qualifier Marina Erakovic 6-1, 6-1.
Williams, playing in just her third tournament since winning Wimbledon last year, and her first on American soil since the 2009 US Open, looked as good as she did when she topped the rankings. The fifth-ranked Sharapova had eight unforced errors before she hit her first winner and the slow start proved costly.
Williams, currently ranked No. 169, beat Sharapova for the sixth straight time and improved to 7-2 overall against her. Sharapova last beat Williams at the 2004 WTA championships.
Lisicki was a semifinalist at Wimbledon and has improved her ranking to 26th after being No. 218 in March.
"I'm looking forward to the match," Lisicki said. "I love competing in the big matches. I have nothing to lose."
In a clash of two former world No. 1-ranked players, Williams put on a clinic with precision serving and a sharp ground game to get the better of the Russian.
Williams' semifinal opponent will be German Sabine Lisicki, who beat fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2.
Third-seeded Marion Bartoli of France advanced when Japan's Ayumi Morita retired after dropping the first set 6-1. Bartoli will meet eighth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, who beat qualifier Marina Erakovic 6-1, 6-1.
Williams, playing in just her third tournament since winning Wimbledon last year, and her first on American soil since the 2009 US Open, looked as good as she did when she topped the rankings. The fifth-ranked Sharapova had eight unforced errors before she hit her first winner and the slow start proved costly.
Williams, currently ranked No. 169, beat Sharapova for the sixth straight time and improved to 7-2 overall against her. Sharapova last beat Williams at the 2004 WTA championships.
Lisicki was a semifinalist at Wimbledon and has improved her ranking to 26th after being No. 218 in March.
"I'm looking forward to the match," Lisicki said. "I love competing in the big matches. I have nothing to lose."
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