Published: Friday October 5, 2012 MYT 6:18:00 PM
Sharapova, Azarenka cruise into China semis
BEIJING: Top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova steamrollered their opponents on Friday, cruising into the semi-finals of the Beijing Open with the loss of just two games between them.
Showing ominous form, French Open champion Sharapova, yet to drop a set in China, won the first set 6-0, and was 3-0 up in the second when Germany's Angelique Kerber quit the match citing an injury to her right foot.
The Russian stayed on track for a re-match of this year's Australian Open final, which she lost to Azarenka, who has also yet to drop a set this week.
Azarenka also came out on top in their semi-final clash at the US Open.
"I thought we played a high level of tennis in the first set and a half, and even though the scoreline was 6-0, 3-0 there were many games that went to deuce," Sharapova said.
"She had a few break points and long games on her serve," the Russian added, saying Kerber was probably lacking fitness at the end of a long season.
"I actually didn't see much of her injury. I was surprised she called the trainer and even more so when she retired quickly after that," Sharapova said.
"The schedule takes its toll on everyone. It's a normal process. If you feel like it's too bad, you've got to take care of it."
Azarenka, from Belarus, maintained her scintillating form, dismissing Romina Oprandi 6-2, 6-0.
"It's never easy to go in the tennis court and win the match even though the score was like this," Azarenka, 23, said.
"It's important to stay tough and have that concentration to make sure that you can win every ball and every point. I felt like I was playing well, but it wasn't easy," she added.
In the men's draw Chinese wildcard Zhang Ze's fairytale run came to an end when he suffered a straight-sets defeat to Germany's Florian Mayer in the quarter-finals.
The 22-year-old, ranked 165th in the world, made history in the last 16 when he became the first Chinese man ever to beat a top 20 player, dumping out France's Richard Gasquet.
His defeat of the Frenchman, ranked 14th, also meant Zhang was the first men's player from China to reach the quarter-final of an ATP event since Pan Bing made the semi-finals in Seoul in 1995.
But matching Pan's 17-year-old mark proved a step too far for the right-hander from Nanjing, with world number 29 Mayer winning 6-3, 6-4.
Third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France defeated Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals.-AFP
- Ice queen Nicol into British Open quarters
- National badminton team’s lack of depth a glaring factor in home tourney
- Khim Wah-V Shem perform above expectations in Sudirman Cup debut
- Dane Jorgensen’s wish is to avoid Chinese ace Lin Dan in World Championships
- Dong-keun shows he’s a capable replacement
- Kenichi’s goal is to take Japan into Sudirman Cup semi-finals
- Squash group on final push for Olympic bid
- Indonesia drawn to meet China again – in knockout stage
- Only Nicol David left to fly Malaysian flag
- Australia to consider following ban on anchor putters
- Olazabal urges Woods and Garcia to settle row
- McIlroy slumps as Ilonen shines at wintry Wentworth
- Dominant Williams fearful of enemy within
- Nadal back in old routine and looking invincible
- French slam drought set to drag on at Roland Garros
- Rosberg on top for Mercedes in first Monaco practice
- Evans to lead BMC team in Tour, says team boss
- Sponsor Adidas criticises Garcia over Woods jibe
- Rugby: Former All Black coach Henry on misconduct charge
- Analysis - Has the anchor ban come too late?
RSS
