Wozniacki, Bartoli reach final
Source: Agencies |
March 20, 2011, Sunday
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Top seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and 15th-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli advanced smoothly to the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, with commanding victories on Friday.
Runner-up last year, Wozniacki outslugged Russian Maria Sharapova from the baseline 6-1, 6-2 after Bartoli had shrugged off the lingering effects of a stomach bug with a 6-1, 6-3 demolition of Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.
World No. 1 Wozniacki, making very few mistakes against a harder hitting opponent in their evening encounter, broke an error-prone Sharapova three times in each set to triumph in 80 minutes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
"Definitely didn't expect such a score, but I'm very pleased about the way I played and the way I got my tactics to work," the 20-year-old Dane told reporters after reaching her third consecutive WTA final this year.
Sharapova, champion here in 2006 but playing her first tournament in five weeks after suffering a viral infection, was frustrated after a "really flat" performance.
"I just didn't have a spark," said the 23-year-old Russian, who served up eight double faults. "She played solid."
Bartoli, at 26 the oldest player left in the draw, broke a listless Wickmayer five times in dazzling afternoon sunshine to claim a lopsided victory in 85 minutes.
The Frenchwoman squealed in delight after hitting a backhand winner down the line to beat her 23rd-seeded opponent for a third time in three meetings.
"I'm very excited to be in the final," Bartoli, runner-up at Wimbledon in 2007, said after ending a run of seven successive defeats in the last four WTA events.
In the men's draw, Roger Federer defeated Swiss compatriot and doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the semifinals, setting up a showdown with Novak Djokovic for the world's No. 2 ranking.
Federer is currently second behind Spain's Rafael Nadal in the ATP rankings, and Djokovic is third. The Serb beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-4 to improve to 16-0 this year and put himself in position to surpass Federer in the rankings.
"I didn't know it was the case coming into the tournament, and I feel like if you are playing a fellow top-five guy, it doesn't matter what's on the line," Federer said. "You just want to beat him, and it doesn't matter if it's the finals, semis, rankings involved."
Federer is 18-2 this year, with one tournament win in Doha. Djokovic won titles at the Australia Open and Dubai, where he beat Federer in the final. His last loss came against Federer in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour finals in London in November.
Nadal and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro will play in the other semifinal. Nadal, Federer and Djokovic have won six of the past seven finals at Indian Wells. Federer is a three-time champion, Nadal has won twice and Djokovic once.
Runner-up last year, Wozniacki outslugged Russian Maria Sharapova from the baseline 6-1, 6-2 after Bartoli had shrugged off the lingering effects of a stomach bug with a 6-1, 6-3 demolition of Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.
World No. 1 Wozniacki, making very few mistakes against a harder hitting opponent in their evening encounter, broke an error-prone Sharapova three times in each set to triumph in 80 minutes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
"Definitely didn't expect such a score, but I'm very pleased about the way I played and the way I got my tactics to work," the 20-year-old Dane told reporters after reaching her third consecutive WTA final this year.
Sharapova, champion here in 2006 but playing her first tournament in five weeks after suffering a viral infection, was frustrated after a "really flat" performance.
"I just didn't have a spark," said the 23-year-old Russian, who served up eight double faults. "She played solid."
Bartoli, at 26 the oldest player left in the draw, broke a listless Wickmayer five times in dazzling afternoon sunshine to claim a lopsided victory in 85 minutes.
The Frenchwoman squealed in delight after hitting a backhand winner down the line to beat her 23rd-seeded opponent for a third time in three meetings.
"I'm very excited to be in the final," Bartoli, runner-up at Wimbledon in 2007, said after ending a run of seven successive defeats in the last four WTA events.
In the men's draw, Roger Federer defeated Swiss compatriot and doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the semifinals, setting up a showdown with Novak Djokovic for the world's No. 2 ranking.
Federer is currently second behind Spain's Rafael Nadal in the ATP rankings, and Djokovic is third. The Serb beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-4 to improve to 16-0 this year and put himself in position to surpass Federer in the rankings.
"I didn't know it was the case coming into the tournament, and I feel like if you are playing a fellow top-five guy, it doesn't matter what's on the line," Federer said. "You just want to beat him, and it doesn't matter if it's the finals, semis, rankings involved."
Federer is 18-2 this year, with one tournament win in Doha. Djokovic won titles at the Australia Open and Dubai, where he beat Federer in the final. His last loss came against Federer in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour finals in London in November.
Nadal and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro will play in the other semifinal. Nadal, Federer and Djokovic have won six of the past seven finals at Indian Wells. Federer is a three-time champion, Nadal has won twice and Djokovic once.
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