Sharapova halts Peng's run
Source: Agencies |
March 19, 2011, Saturday
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MARIA Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki reached the BNP Paribas Open semifinals in Indian Wells in markedly different fashion on Thursday, one surviving a crisis of confidence and the other benefiting from a withdrawal.
Former champion Sharapova battled past China's Peng Shuai 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 after top-seeded Dane Wozniacki was gifted a place in the last four when her opponent, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, retired with a hip injury while trailing 0-3.
Russian Sharapova, playing her first tournament in five weeks after suffering a viral infection, appeared to be in cruise control against Peng after sweeping through the first set and going 2-0 up in the second. However she then double-faulted seven times and was broken three times in a marathon, mistake-littered second set on the showpiece stadium court for the Chinese to level the match.
The final set began with four successive breaks of serve before the Russian, regaining form with her crunching forehand, broke Peng in the seventh and ninth games triumph in two hours and 22 minutes.
"I'm really happy to be in the semis of this tournament," 2006 champion Sharapova, 23, told reporters after sealing the match with a rasping forehand return down the line.
"I was playing really well for the first set and a half, and then I let her back in the game. She played some good points and after that I was forcing so many things. I just started making too many errors. But the most important thing is I got myself together, I focused and regrouped."
Sharapova will take on Wozniacki in the last four, having lost to the Dane in straight sets when they last met at the 2010 US Open.
Peng was largely satisfied with her deepest run ever at Indian Wells, despite failing to reach her third WTA semifinal this year.
"I was really happy to be into the quarterfinals here but Maria is a tough match," the 25-year-old said. "In the third set I have a chance, but she played well. I have a lot of things (I) have to improve."
Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli and Belgian Yanina Wickmayer booked their places in the last four on Wednesday.
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal withstood a barrage of power serving by Croat Ivo Karlovic to reach the semifinals with a thrilling 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 victory.
Left-hander Nadal had earned his third match point of the night with a sublime inside-out forehand crosscourt winner and the crowd erupted with deafening roars when he converted it moments later to seal victory in two hours, 23 minutes.
He collapsed to the ground in delight and will next meet Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who was gifted a place in the last four when Spaniard Tommy Robredo pulled out of their match earlier in the day with a strained left abductor muscle.
Karlovic, who became the fastest server of all time with a 251kph blast during his country's Davis Cup tie against Germany in Zagreb this month, ended the match with a total of 23 aces.
Former champion Sharapova battled past China's Peng Shuai 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 after top-seeded Dane Wozniacki was gifted a place in the last four when her opponent, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, retired with a hip injury while trailing 0-3.
Russian Sharapova, playing her first tournament in five weeks after suffering a viral infection, appeared to be in cruise control against Peng after sweeping through the first set and going 2-0 up in the second. However she then double-faulted seven times and was broken three times in a marathon, mistake-littered second set on the showpiece stadium court for the Chinese to level the match.
The final set began with four successive breaks of serve before the Russian, regaining form with her crunching forehand, broke Peng in the seventh and ninth games triumph in two hours and 22 minutes.
"I'm really happy to be in the semis of this tournament," 2006 champion Sharapova, 23, told reporters after sealing the match with a rasping forehand return down the line.
"I was playing really well for the first set and a half, and then I let her back in the game. She played some good points and after that I was forcing so many things. I just started making too many errors. But the most important thing is I got myself together, I focused and regrouped."
Sharapova will take on Wozniacki in the last four, having lost to the Dane in straight sets when they last met at the 2010 US Open.
Peng was largely satisfied with her deepest run ever at Indian Wells, despite failing to reach her third WTA semifinal this year.
"I was really happy to be into the quarterfinals here but Maria is a tough match," the 25-year-old said. "In the third set I have a chance, but she played well. I have a lot of things (I) have to improve."
Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli and Belgian Yanina Wickmayer booked their places in the last four on Wednesday.
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal withstood a barrage of power serving by Croat Ivo Karlovic to reach the semifinals with a thrilling 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 victory.
Left-hander Nadal had earned his third match point of the night with a sublime inside-out forehand crosscourt winner and the crowd erupted with deafening roars when he converted it moments later to seal victory in two hours, 23 minutes.
He collapsed to the ground in delight and will next meet Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who was gifted a place in the last four when Spaniard Tommy Robredo pulled out of their match earlier in the day with a strained left abductor muscle.
Karlovic, who became the fastest server of all time with a 251kph blast during his country's Davis Cup tie against Germany in Zagreb this month, ended the match with a total of 23 aces.
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