Moscow Suffers as Mauresmo Upset, Sharapova Injured
Posted on October 14, 2006MOSCOW, Russia -- Russian fans will have lots to cheer about Saturday, after three of their own etched their names into the Kremlin Cup semifinal line-up on Friday. Czech teen Nicole Vaidisova was the only player from another country to reach the final four at the Tier I event, and she certainly made her way there in world-beating style.
For the second time this season, Vaidisova toppled the world's top player, coming back from match point down on three different occasions to pull off a 16 75 76(3) victory over Amelie Mauresmo. The No.8-seeded Czech found herself trailing 5-2 in the second set but hung tough, coming within one point of defeat down 5-2 and 5-4 before roaring back and smacking an ace to force a third and deciding set.
The decider was just as streaky as the rest of the match. Vaidisova went ahead 3-1 and 4-2 only to see Mauresmo get the set back on serve; the Frenchwoman held another match point with Vaidisova serving 5-6, but again failed to convert. The tie-break was no contest, as one of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's youngest and brightest stars found the range on her devastating serve and ground game.
"It's disappointing," said Mauresmo, who was coming off a third set tie-break win against another young player, Elena Vesnina, in her first match of the tournament on Thursday. "The thing about tie-breaks is it's about taking your opportunities. I did that yesterday, but obviously not today. I think it's also very important to be physically fresh at the end of the match, but that also wasn't the case today."
The victory represents Vaidisova's second over a reigning No.1 player, having had her first over the Frenchwoman at Roland Garros, in May. It is also her first Top 10 win since, having dropped her last three matches with the game's elite.
"I definitely started the match very badly, but at 5-2 I told myself I had to play better or lose," Vaidisova said after the match. "Once I got into the third set, I had some opportunities and even had a break. Even though I lost that break, I managed to stay positive and kept fighting, and that's why I won today."
Joining Mauresmo on the sidelines was No.2 seed Maria Sharapova, who was forced to withdraw prior to her match against compatriot Anna Chakvetadze due to a right foot strain. The withdrawal sent Chakvetadze, who just a few weeks ago won her maiden title in Guangzhou, into her second career Tier I semifinal.
"I hurt my foot in my match Wednesday and since then I did everything possible to be ready for today, but when I woke up this morning it was obvious I wasn't going to be able to play," said Sharapova, who beat Ekaterina Bychkova on Wednesday. "I'm disappointed because I felt I was playing really well lately."
"I'm disappointed not to play, especially with Maria here in Russia," Chakvetadze said. "I'll try to use my time off to relax and get ready for my semifinal match. I have played Dementieva before and she has beaten me every time, but I'm a stronger player now and I think I have a chance to win."
Dementieva, Petrova join teens in final four
Awaiting the two aforementioned phenoms in the final four are two experienced Top 10 players, Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova. No.4-seeded Dementieva beat one of her closest rivals, No.6 seed Patty Schnyder, 76(6) 76(1), while the No.5-seeded Petrova stopped unseeded compatriot Vera Zvonareva, 75 61. It was the seventh straight match win for Petrova, who won in Stuttgart last week.
"With two tie-break sets you have to get lucky; I was a bit lucky on some points today," said Dementieva, now 6-6 against Schnyder. "It's really important right now to get as many points as possible for the Sony Ericsson Championships as there are a few of us fighting for the last spots, so it's really important for me to get as far into this tournament as possible."
"I'm getting better with every match; last week's title has obviously given me lots of confidence," said Petrova, who will play Vaidisova. "It's great to be in the semifinals here in Moscow, my home town, so I hope just hope I can keep going."
Petrova and Vaidisova are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head series. Petrova won the first meeting at the US Open last year, 76(4) 75, but Vaidisova gained revenge in the Bangkok final a year ago, winning 61 67(5) 75.
Dementieva and Chakvetadze will also be playing for the third time, but the more experienced Dementieva leads the series, 2-0. She won at the 2005 Australian Open easily, 62 61, but then was forced to fight back from a 3-0 deficit in the 2005 US Open to win, 61 46 76(5).
"She has a day off so she should be fresh," added Dementieva on Chakvetadze. "She's improved a lot since the last time we played; I expect a tough match."
-- WTA
For the second time this season, Vaidisova toppled the world's top player, coming back from match point down on three different occasions to pull off a 16 75 76(3) victory over Amelie Mauresmo. The No.8-seeded Czech found herself trailing 5-2 in the second set but hung tough, coming within one point of defeat down 5-2 and 5-4 before roaring back and smacking an ace to force a third and deciding set.
The decider was just as streaky as the rest of the match. Vaidisova went ahead 3-1 and 4-2 only to see Mauresmo get the set back on serve; the Frenchwoman held another match point with Vaidisova serving 5-6, but again failed to convert. The tie-break was no contest, as one of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's youngest and brightest stars found the range on her devastating serve and ground game.
"It's disappointing," said Mauresmo, who was coming off a third set tie-break win against another young player, Elena Vesnina, in her first match of the tournament on Thursday. "The thing about tie-breaks is it's about taking your opportunities. I did that yesterday, but obviously not today. I think it's also very important to be physically fresh at the end of the match, but that also wasn't the case today."
The victory represents Vaidisova's second over a reigning No.1 player, having had her first over the Frenchwoman at Roland Garros, in May. It is also her first Top 10 win since, having dropped her last three matches with the game's elite.
"I definitely started the match very badly, but at 5-2 I told myself I had to play better or lose," Vaidisova said after the match. "Once I got into the third set, I had some opportunities and even had a break. Even though I lost that break, I managed to stay positive and kept fighting, and that's why I won today."
Joining Mauresmo on the sidelines was No.2 seed Maria Sharapova, who was forced to withdraw prior to her match against compatriot Anna Chakvetadze due to a right foot strain. The withdrawal sent Chakvetadze, who just a few weeks ago won her maiden title in Guangzhou, into her second career Tier I semifinal.
"I hurt my foot in my match Wednesday and since then I did everything possible to be ready for today, but when I woke up this morning it was obvious I wasn't going to be able to play," said Sharapova, who beat Ekaterina Bychkova on Wednesday. "I'm disappointed because I felt I was playing really well lately."
"I'm disappointed not to play, especially with Maria here in Russia," Chakvetadze said. "I'll try to use my time off to relax and get ready for my semifinal match. I have played Dementieva before and she has beaten me every time, but I'm a stronger player now and I think I have a chance to win."
Dementieva, Petrova join teens in final four
Awaiting the two aforementioned phenoms in the final four are two experienced Top 10 players, Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova. No.4-seeded Dementieva beat one of her closest rivals, No.6 seed Patty Schnyder, 76(6) 76(1), while the No.5-seeded Petrova stopped unseeded compatriot Vera Zvonareva, 75 61. It was the seventh straight match win for Petrova, who won in Stuttgart last week.
"With two tie-break sets you have to get lucky; I was a bit lucky on some points today," said Dementieva, now 6-6 against Schnyder. "It's really important right now to get as many points as possible for the Sony Ericsson Championships as there are a few of us fighting for the last spots, so it's really important for me to get as far into this tournament as possible."
"I'm getting better with every match; last week's title has obviously given me lots of confidence," said Petrova, who will play Vaidisova. "It's great to be in the semifinals here in Moscow, my home town, so I hope just hope I can keep going."
Petrova and Vaidisova are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head series. Petrova won the first meeting at the US Open last year, 76(4) 75, but Vaidisova gained revenge in the Bangkok final a year ago, winning 61 67(5) 75.
Dementieva and Chakvetadze will also be playing for the third time, but the more experienced Dementieva leads the series, 2-0. She won at the 2005 Australian Open easily, 62 61, but then was forced to fight back from a 3-0 deficit in the 2005 US Open to win, 61 46 76(5).
"She has a day off so she should be fresh," added Dementieva on Chakvetadze. "She's improved a lot since the last time we played; I expect a tough match."
-- WTA