Russians Routed in Semis at WTA MoscowPosted on October 16, 2005 The two remaining Russians at the Kremlin Cup were sent to the sidelines Saturday when No. 3 seed Mary Pierce defeated unseeded Dinara Safina 7-6(2), 6-3, and unseeded Italian Francesca Schiavone routed No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-1.
Safina was coming off a three-set win over world No. 1 Maria Sharapova, which appeared to take its toll on Marat Safin's younger sister in the semifinals. "I had hard time adjusting to this surface," said Pierce, who trailed 1-4 in the first set. "I was not confident enough at the beginning of the match but after I got up 4-1, I felt more comfortable...I tried to make her run a lot to make her tired and that tactic seemed to work." Schiavone's upset victory followed wins earlier in the week over Amelie Mauresmo and Svetlana Kuznetsova. "I was able to follow my game plan today and it worked," Schiavone said on topping Dementieva. "The score may look like it was an easy match but it's misleading because in every rally I was trying to figure out how to put pressure on her. In the end I was successful and I am so happy to be in my first Tier I singles final." Pierce won her only meeting with Schiavone last year on clay in Fed Cup play. The doubles final will be (1) Black/Stubbs vs. (2) Raymond/Stosur. |
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