Lucie Hradecka is known for her big serve. Today, in the Madrid Open quarterfinals, she used it to great advantage to upset 5th seed Sam Stosur 7-6, 7-6. Hradecka, who hit 19 aces (she generally hits 10 or more), was successful with both her first and second serves. Hradecka had already taken out Madrid defending champion Petra Kvitova. In the semifinals, Hradecka will play Serena Williams, who easily defeated Maria Sharapova in straight sets.
In the other semifinal, top seed Victoria Azarenka will once again play Agnieszka Radwanska. Azarenka defeated Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. Radwanska fought off a spirited challenge from qualifier Varvara Lepchenko, beating her 6-4, 6-4. There were eight breaks of serve in that match.
In doubles, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci beat Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova, and Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina defeated the reunited (at least for now) team of Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
Players continue to complain about the blue clay, not just because it's a different color from what they'll see at the French Open, but also, they say, because it's too slippery.
So far, Radwanska's 0-5 vs. Azarenka, and 36-0 against everyone else.
ReplyDeleteCrazy.
Lepchenko was a revelation in Madrid. Is she for real?
ReplyDeleteRob
it's sixth time and it's still spring. I'd say Aga must have said: 'not again'. It's just her luck. Remember when she had to play her sister in 1Rs of a few tournaments?
ReplyDeleteLepchenko has her moments, Rob, but they're sporadic. She's definitely moved to another level, however.
ReplyDeleteAga's terrible fate is to keep meeting Azarenka at these big moments.
A Serena-Azarenka final is something to look forward to, yes?
A Serena-Vika final is definitely something to look forward, what a match it could be! Their matches were already great most of times, now with Azarenka at the top, i can only expect a high quality final.
ReplyDeleteAbout the surface, i can't made my mind to either a nice change or a terrible unimprovement. Players complain about slippery but i have yet to know of some serious injurie, i could even say there are fewer injuries than other tournaments (Stuttgart). What are your thoughts in this, Diane?
It seems to me, big names (clearly Novak and Rafa, but not just them) are just somewhat sore losers, blaming the surface not for slippery but for faster, wich doesn't suits their game. As for the surface being only for advertising purposes, i have no problem with it, it looks cool and advertisement is already everywhere in both tours.
I think you make a good point, Roi--that we haven't heard about injuries. And I do think we have some perhaps over-sensitive players. Rafa has really gone over the top with it.
ReplyDeleteSerena complained at first, but then she just seemed to accept the court the way it is. It really is kind of fun for viewers, but I would have been oka with red clay, too.
Serena and Federer both seem to have adapted to the surface, just getting on with their games, where as Djokovic and Nadal have come out of the event looking like whinge puppies. But it's great to see some different names in the men's sfs. And hopefully Serena & Vika will meet on Sunday in what should be a great match.
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