Wednesday, June 1, 2011

King and Shvedova upset in French Open semifinals

When the French Open began, I thought there might be a chance for the all-Czech team to win. I was right--only I picked the wrong all-Czech team. Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, seeded 8th, went out in the first round. In fact, they were defeated by countrywomen Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. Today, the unseeded team of Hlavackova and Hradecka (who also beat 2nd seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik) upset 3rd seeds Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals.

Hlavackova and Hradecka are the second unseeded team to play in the French Open final in the last 30 years. The other unseeded team, Casey Dellacqua and Francesca Schiavone, had runner-up status in 2008.

The 4th seeds, Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond were also defeated in the semifinals, by 7th seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina. Mirza and Vesnina, who won on clay in Charleston, defeated Huber and Raymond 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

Also today, Katarina Srebotnik and partner Nenad Zimojic advanced to the mixed doubles final with a 7-6, 7-6 win over Nadia Petrova and Jamie Murray. Srebotnik and Zimonjic are seeded number 1.

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