Myskina Wins, Li Loses at WTA Stockholm
Posted on August 12, 2006
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Anastasia Myskina and Sofia Arvidsson set up a much-anticipated semifinal clash, while a potential all-Chinese semifinal was broken up on the bottom half of the draw, after quarterfinal action took place at the Nordea Nordic Light Open on Friday.
Myskina, the top seed this week, prevailed against a player that has been troublesome in the past, beating unseeded Slovak Martina Sucha, 64 64. They were 2-2 lifetime prior to Friday's encounter, with Sucha winning their most prominent previous encounter, in the first round of Roland Garros five years ago. But this time the Russian was too tough, overcoming holes of 4-1 in the first set and 3-1 in the second en route to victory.
"I was really surprised at how well she played," Myskina said. "But I am happy with my performance, and I am looking forward to tomorrow's semifinal."
With the win, Myskina takes one step closer to a Top 10 return. Should she win in Stockholm, she would displace Lindsay Davenport at No.10. Myskina first entered the Top 10 on February 17, 2003, and spent 113 of the next 123 weeks among that elite. Since dropping out on August 1, 2005, she has hovered between No.11 and No.14; now, she has a strong chance to return.
Awaiting Myskina in the semifinals will be Swedish crowd favorite Arvidsson, who fought back from a set down against Eva Birnerova, eventually benefiting from an injury retirement from the Czech to win, 46 63 20. Arvidsson, seeded No.4, was on the defense throughout the first set against the unseeded Birnerova, but took control in the second set en route to winning.
"In the first set, I had lead shoes on," Arvidsson said after the match. "In the second set, I improved the depth on my shots, started hitting my backhand better, and it turned around."
Saturday's semifinal will mark the fourth meeting between Myskina and Arvidsson, the first three all seeming to come during career breakthroughs for the Swede. In 2004, she played her first Grand Slam main draw, only to fall to Myskina in the first round, 62 75; upon reaching her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour quarterfinal at this event in 2005, she again fell to the Russian, 75 62; and earlier this year, she reached her first third round of a major, only to fall, 63 61, to Myskina. Arvidsson is still seeking her first victory over a Top 15 player.
Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova prevented an all-Chinese semifinal on the bottom half of the draw, ousting No.2-seeded Chinese trailblazer Li Na, 62 76(7), saving set points at 5-4, 6-5 and in the tie-break in the second set. She faces another Chinese star in the semis, namely No.3 seed Zheng Jie. Zheng beat Danish teen Caroline Wozniacki, 63 61, in her quarterfinal. Zheng and Pironkova will be squaring off for the first time in Saturday's semifinals.
The first doubles semifinal was contested Friday, with Zheng and compatriot Yan Zi cruising past Stephanie Cohen-Aloro and Selima Sfar, 63 62. The top-seeded Chinese duo has been one of the strongest teams this year; although they aren't ranked as high as current world No.1s Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur, they have come through on the biggest stages, capturing two of the year's first three majors (Australian Open, Wimbledon). They have also claimed a handful of other titles, including the Tier I clay court event in Berlin.
Saturday's second doubles semifinal pits No.2-seeded team Eleni Daniilidou and Jasmin Woehr against Birnerova and Jarmila Gajdosova. Daniilidou and Woehr won their quarterfinal match on Friday over wild card pairing Emma Laine and Wozniacki, 64 60.
-- WTA
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