 |
| For the second round running Sharapova had to fight through |
Roland Garros 2013 Day 12: Maria battles, Serena cruises
Mixed Doubles
Before the Women's semi-finals took to the court on Day 12 a rather sparse crowd on the Philipp Chatrier Court saw 20 year-old Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic taste defeat in her first Grand Slam final.
 |
| Frantisek and Hradecka taste Grand Slam glory |
Mladenovic and the vastly experienced Daniel Nestor raced through the opening set against Czech's Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak but saw their momentum halted when Nestor was broken to start the second set.
The Czeck team, who were finalists at the Australian Open in January, held onto the break to level the match and then took the ensuing tie-break to claim a 1-6 6-4 10-6 victory.
Women's Singles
 |
| Sharapova avenged her previous major losses to Azarenka |
The women's semi-finals offered, as expected, two contrasting matches with one excellent contest and one procession as the 2013 finalists were decided
In a repeat of their 2012 Australian Open final and 2012 US Open semi-final Maria Sharpova and Victoria Azarenka resumed their intense rivalry on day 12.
It was a fluctuating rain interrupted battle that swung one way and then the next. Defending champion Sharapova was broken in the first game but then dominated Azarenka with a run of six straight games.
The determined Belarusian dug in and from 2-2 in the second the Australian Open champion ran out five straight games to level the match and, after a rain break, open the third.
Sharapova struck first in the third with a break for 2-1 but Azarenka broke straight back. The Russian second seed broke again for 3-2 and then again to lead 5-2.
Serving for the match Sharapova held four match points but saw Azarenka survive and the No.3 seed broke and held for 4-5 putting the Russian under huge pressure.
However the four-time major winner calmly held serve to love finishing with an ace to seal her eighth Grand Slam final and first as a reigning champion.
 |
| No.1 seed Williams looked awesome against Errani |
In the second semi Serena Williams bulldozed into her first Roland Garros final for 11 years with a devastating 6-0 6-1 thrashing of 2012 finalist Sara Errani.
The 2002 champion, severely challenged in the last eight, was simply too good for the diminutive Italian in every area winning in a mere 46 minutes.
The 31 year-old American sent down 40 winners and limited Errani to a meagre 16 points during the match.
The Italian 5th seed had one moment to celebrate when she got onto the board in the fourth game of the second set but Williams reeled off the final three games with ease to book her place in a 20th Grand Slam singles final.
Sharapova can only hope that somehow Williams is off form on Saturday. It is looking highly unlikely.
Sharapova can only hope that somehow Williams is off form on Saturday. It is looking highly unlikely.
No comments:
Post a Comment