Serena survives scare as Sharapova soars
Source: Agencies |
May 11, 2013, Saturday
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TOP-RANKED Serena Williams outlasted Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 0-6, 7-5 to reach the Madrid Open semifinals yesterday.
Williams appeared to wear down against the scrappy Spaniard on the red claycourt, and after getting blanked in the second set she fell behind 2-4 in the decider.
But the defending champion rallied back to break Medina Garrigues' serve twice to move on.
"It was definitely a battle," Williams said. "I obviously didn't do much in the second set and gave her confidence to play better."
Williams will next face Sara Errani, after the Italian seventh seed got the better of Russian giant-killer Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-3.
Second seed Maria Sharapova of Russia had less trouble easing by Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-4 to set up a semifinal with either fellow former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia or Germany's Angelique Kerber.
Williams' entertaining match at the Caja Magica against an opponent she had rightly described as a "grinder" the day before took several momentum swings.
The 63rd-ranked Medina Garrigues has 10 career claycourt titles - the most of any active player - and her footwork and hustle against Williams showed why.
Williams was ahead 2-0 in the third set and with two break chances to take firm control of the match, but Medina Garrigues ran off four straight points to hold serve and soon enough the upset looked to be in the works.
But Williams regained command of her ground strokes and a deep drive forced Medina Garrigues into erring her return to cede her serve.
The American favorite then used another powerful shot to break Medina Garrigues again before holding serve to love to close out the match.
Williams said she was still at a loss as to why she lost concentration in that second set, which she considered "a reference for what not to do".
"I just wasn't really into it, my feet weren't moving," she said.
Williams improved her record to 29 wins and two losses on the year.
Williams appeared to wear down against the scrappy Spaniard on the red claycourt, and after getting blanked in the second set she fell behind 2-4 in the decider.
But the defending champion rallied back to break Medina Garrigues' serve twice to move on.
"It was definitely a battle," Williams said. "I obviously didn't do much in the second set and gave her confidence to play better."
Williams will next face Sara Errani, after the Italian seventh seed got the better of Russian giant-killer Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-3.
Second seed Maria Sharapova of Russia had less trouble easing by Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-4 to set up a semifinal with either fellow former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia or Germany's Angelique Kerber.
Williams' entertaining match at the Caja Magica against an opponent she had rightly described as a "grinder" the day before took several momentum swings.
The 63rd-ranked Medina Garrigues has 10 career claycourt titles - the most of any active player - and her footwork and hustle against Williams showed why.
Williams was ahead 2-0 in the third set and with two break chances to take firm control of the match, but Medina Garrigues ran off four straight points to hold serve and soon enough the upset looked to be in the works.
But Williams regained command of her ground strokes and a deep drive forced Medina Garrigues into erring her return to cede her serve.
The American favorite then used another powerful shot to break Medina Garrigues again before holding serve to love to close out the match.
Williams said she was still at a loss as to why she lost concentration in that second set, which she considered "a reference for what not to do".
"I just wasn't really into it, my feet weren't moving," she said.
Williams improved her record to 29 wins and two losses on the year.
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