Wimbledon Womens Semifinal Previews
Posted on July 5, 2007LONDON, Great Britain -- After a rain plagued past few days in south-west London, the quarterfinal line-up in the bottom half of the draw has finally been completed. Nicole Vaidisova's reward for ousting reigning champion Amelie Mauresmo is a clash with fellow teenager Ana Ivanovic, while the other encounter will see 2005 champion Venus Williams battle it out against Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Centre Court
(23) Venus Williams (USA) vs. (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) -- Kuznetsova leads, 3-2
The All-England Club holds a special place in Williams' heart and after the spectacular performance she delivered to crush No.2 seed Maria Sharapova and set up a quarterfinal meeting with No.5 Kuznetsova, few would rule the American out from collecting title number four this year. The No.23 seed looked out of sorts in the first few rounds, but she delivered her best performance of the season to dismiss Sharapova for the loss of just four games. Williams season did not get underway until February because of a left wrist injury and she marked her comeback with the 34th tournament victory of her career at the Tier III event in Memphis. However, since this triumph the 27-year-old has struggled for consistency, making it beyond the quarterfinals on just one occasion in the subsequent four months. Williams' run to the quarterfinals has required her to draw upon all her fighting spirit, coming from the brink of defeat against both Alla Kudryavtseva and Akiko Morigami before prevailing in three sets.
After making a slow start to the tournament, world No.5 Kuznetsova has improved with every match and was particularly impressive during her clinical dismissal of talented teenager, Tamira Paszek, in the fourth round. The 21-year-old from St. Petersburg has enjoyed a remarkably consistent first six months of the season, achieving runner-up finishes in four events as well as compiling 36 singles victories on Tour. Kuznetsova was just two games from defeat in her opening round encounter with Julia Vakulenko, but after fighting back to win in three tough sets she has not looked back and has now made it into her third quarterfinal in five years at the All-England Club. Thursday's clash with Williams will be the pair's fifth meeting on Tour and after edging a tight three-set contest at the start of May in Warsaw, Kuznetsova is sure to be confident of repeating the result and reaching her maiden Wimbledon semifinal.
(6) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) vs. (14) Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) -- Series tied, 1-1
Two of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's most talented young players will meet in Thursday's second quarterfinal and with a maiden Wimbledon semifinal at stake there are sure to be a few nerves in the all-teenage affair. Serbia's Ivanovic has enjoyed a spectacular first six months of the season, achieving a runner-up finish at Roland Garros, capturing the Tier I title in Berlin and breaking into the Top 10 for the first time in her career. The 19-year-old has played well in her third visit to the All-England Club, but was made to work hard for her place in the quarterfinals, fighting back from a break down in the final set to defeat No.11 seed Nadia Petrova.
Vaidisova secured her quarterfinal berth with a spectacular fourth-round defeat of defending champion Mauresmo on Centre Court; her third straight victory over the world No.4. The 18-year-old Czech star made an excellent start to the 2007 season, reaching back-to-back semifinals at Sydney and the Australian Open, and despite having won only eight grass-court matches in her career prior to this year's Wimbledon, she has been in commanding form this fortnight. Her encounter with Mauresmo was the first match she has dropped a set in all tournament and after defeating Ivanovic earlier this year in Sydney, she will enter the contest fully believing she can reach the third Grand Slam semifinal of her fledgling career.
-- Courtesy WTA Tour
Centre Court
(23) Venus Williams (USA) vs. (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) -- Kuznetsova leads, 3-2
The All-England Club holds a special place in Williams' heart and after the spectacular performance she delivered to crush No.2 seed Maria Sharapova and set up a quarterfinal meeting with No.5 Kuznetsova, few would rule the American out from collecting title number four this year. The No.23 seed looked out of sorts in the first few rounds, but she delivered her best performance of the season to dismiss Sharapova for the loss of just four games. Williams season did not get underway until February because of a left wrist injury and she marked her comeback with the 34th tournament victory of her career at the Tier III event in Memphis. However, since this triumph the 27-year-old has struggled for consistency, making it beyond the quarterfinals on just one occasion in the subsequent four months. Williams' run to the quarterfinals has required her to draw upon all her fighting spirit, coming from the brink of defeat against both Alla Kudryavtseva and Akiko Morigami before prevailing in three sets.
After making a slow start to the tournament, world No.5 Kuznetsova has improved with every match and was particularly impressive during her clinical dismissal of talented teenager, Tamira Paszek, in the fourth round. The 21-year-old from St. Petersburg has enjoyed a remarkably consistent first six months of the season, achieving runner-up finishes in four events as well as compiling 36 singles victories on Tour. Kuznetsova was just two games from defeat in her opening round encounter with Julia Vakulenko, but after fighting back to win in three tough sets she has not looked back and has now made it into her third quarterfinal in five years at the All-England Club. Thursday's clash with Williams will be the pair's fifth meeting on Tour and after edging a tight three-set contest at the start of May in Warsaw, Kuznetsova is sure to be confident of repeating the result and reaching her maiden Wimbledon semifinal.
(6) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) vs. (14) Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) -- Series tied, 1-1
Two of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's most talented young players will meet in Thursday's second quarterfinal and with a maiden Wimbledon semifinal at stake there are sure to be a few nerves in the all-teenage affair. Serbia's Ivanovic has enjoyed a spectacular first six months of the season, achieving a runner-up finish at Roland Garros, capturing the Tier I title in Berlin and breaking into the Top 10 for the first time in her career. The 19-year-old has played well in her third visit to the All-England Club, but was made to work hard for her place in the quarterfinals, fighting back from a break down in the final set to defeat No.11 seed Nadia Petrova.
Vaidisova secured her quarterfinal berth with a spectacular fourth-round defeat of defending champion Mauresmo on Centre Court; her third straight victory over the world No.4. The 18-year-old Czech star made an excellent start to the 2007 season, reaching back-to-back semifinals at Sydney and the Australian Open, and despite having won only eight grass-court matches in her career prior to this year's Wimbledon, she has been in commanding form this fortnight. Her encounter with Mauresmo was the first match she has dropped a set in all tournament and after defeating Ivanovic earlier this year in Sydney, she will enter the contest fully believing she can reach the third Grand Slam semifinal of her fledgling career.
-- Courtesy WTA Tour