Thursday, May 7, 2009

Safina, Azarenka, Kuznetsova, and Williams go to Rome semifinals

Top seed Dinara Safina came back from a set and a break down to defeat Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in today's Rome quarterfinals. Safina defeated Martinez Sanchez 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Of course, a set and a break down is really nothing for Thrill Ride.

Victoria Azarenka is lucky that Kaia Kanepi double-faulted twelve times in their quarterfinal match. Azarenka was something of a mess in this match, in which the players held serve only twice in the opening set. The term "out of sorts" is probably used too much, but no description fits Azarenka's behavior today better. Azarenka, with a 7-6, 6-3 win, goes to the semifinals.

2007 and 2008 Rome champion Jelena Jankovic was taken out of the tournament today by Stuttgart champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-1, 7-6. Toward the end of the second set, Kuznetsova got tight and began making errors. It looked hopeful for Jankovic--I assumed there would be a third set--but Kuznetsova pulled it off.

I didn't get to see Venus Williams play Agnieszka Radwanska, but I understand that Williams was in extremely good form throughout. She must have been: She defeated Radwanska 6-1, 6-2.

2 comments:

Phaura Reinz said...

hi! ive been reading your blog for a week now!!!!...

my fave players are vee, rere, agnieszka, and nole and rafa on the atp...

i also love the new bunch, vika, caroline and sabine...i also love the 'veterans' vera and ana...

take on aggie: aggie was injured, back injury as she was forced to withdraw her and agnes's doubles match..aggie can't even do her backhand down the line like 5 times in the match...vee's test will really stat with her semis match....

hope vee wins it against dinara, but dinara is lethal on clay...she's an escape artist, escaping the test of zheng, and m.j. martinez...

lvoe your blog!!!

Diane said...

Thank you, Phaura. I'm pleased to have you as a reader.

Dinara does seem to have an "escape artist" quality to her, but it doesn't always work in finals.