Stosur, Errani into French Semis; Sharapova, Kvitova Up Wednesday

by Staff | June 6th, 2012, 12:53 am
  • 10 Comments

Italian Sara Errani and Aussie Sam Stosur moved into the women’s semifinals on Tuesday at the French Open.

Errani beat German Angelique Kerber 6-3, 7-6(2) for her first Top 10 win and a first Grand Slam semifinal. She improved to 1-28 lifetime against Top 10 opponents.
ADHEREL
“In the beginning [of the second set] I was feeling a little bit tired,” Errani said. “Even though I was behind I just tried to stay in there, because I knew the match would be long. I just wanted to keep fighting for every ball and every point out there.”

Errani has won three claycourt titles in 2012 at WTA stops in Acapulco, Barcelona and Budapest.
 
“A big change for me really was the racquet,” Errani gave a ringing endorsement to her Babolat, the stick of choice for giving undersized players power. “It makes me feel much better on the court, like I have more power and am not too different from the other players in terms of power and those things. But also physically I worked very hard in the winter — I was doing that every winter, though, so maybe it’s just a mix of everything that’s helping right now.”
 
Errani will next face Stosur, who beat down No. 15 seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 6-1. The Italian Errani is 0-5 career against Stosur, another mountain to climb.


“I’ve had success against her in the past, but the semifinals of Roland Garros is a whole new ballgame,” Stosur said of Errani. “You can think about the past and the history of the matches, but if something changes when you’re out on the court, you have to be aware of that and adjust, too. So I’m just going to try to play aggressive and play my game. I have to be ready. Sara is having a breakthrough year, making quarterfinals of the Australian Open and now here. You’ve got to respect that and be aware of that.”

On court Wednesday at Roland Garros in women’s quarterfinal action are (2) Maria Sharapova vs. (23) Kaia Kanepi, and qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova vs. (4) Petra Kvitova.


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10 Comments for Stosur, Errani into French Semis; Sharapova, Kvitova Up Wednesday

mat4 Says:

I would like to make a comment about RG.

I am shocked–and it is not the first time– by the behaviour of the organisers. Gachassin, the president of the FFT, in the last two Tsonga’s matches, forgot that he was a representative of the organisers, his federation, his country. OK, he is not Sandro Pertini in the final of the WC 1982, happy but dignified in his happiness after Italy won, but his antics on the stands were scandalous. He should have known better, that he is not anybody.

But his behaviour is an internal reduplication of the behaviour of the public at RG. And, let’s say it frankly, that behaviour is ugly.

When you add the lack of lights, the programmation, the favouritism toward some players (the Stan-Jo match was a good example, I mentioned it in a previous post), Roland Garros is a joke of a slam.


dari Says:

Wow, Maria!

So close to career slam and back to no. 1! Would be incredible for her after shoulder surgery!


jane Says:

I agree mat4, especially with the lighting problems, the scheduling issues, and the crowd – which is sparse and overly partisan. I thought it was so SAD that probably HALF of the stadium left after Tsonga lost the 4th set yesterday. Imagine how Jo would’ve felt, seeing them all filing out!? It’s like they were telling him “you’ve lost”. And there was still the 5th set to play. That was shameful and sad. I really don’t think you’d ever see that at Wimbledon or the AO, where they love the tennis first and foremost, maybe not even the USO, though the crowds are usually milling about at that slam.


jane Says:

dari, Maria has Kvitova next though. That will be a tough one. Petra can really turn it on. I like both of them so won’t be too bummed either way, but I would love to see Sharapva get the career slam.


andrea Says:

another nadal snoozer match – yawn.


andrea Says:

another nadal snoozer match – yawn.


RZ Says:

I’m rooting for Sam! It would be great for Stosur to win the French after her finals and semis appearances of the last few years. (Though I agree it would be a tremendous achievement for Shriekapova after her shoulder issues – but until she stops screaming during matchs, I can’t bring myself to root for her).


Humble Rafa Says:

Uncle Toni is going to work me like a dog after not playing so well. I mean…TIE BREAK. Some damn guy was about to get a set.


Kimmi Says:

Go petra..but very streaky. todays match was another lucky escape. I hope she can play well tomorrow.


RZ Says:

Kimmi – me too!

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