2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone's Paris run came to an end today when Victoria Azarenka reeled off nine straight games following a 3-all score in the first set of their round of 16 match. It took Azarenka a while to get her bearings--playing Schiavone on clay is no easy feat for anyone--but once she did, the former world number 1 was unstoppable. This is the first time that Azarenka has reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
Also winning in straight sets was defending champion Maria Sharapova, who defeated Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-3.
It took 18th seed Jelena Jankovic just over an hour to pretty much run over Jamie Hampton, 6-0, 6-2. Jankovic last reached the quarterfinals in 2010.
More interesting was the match played between Maria Kirilenko and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Both women had to have medical treatment--Kirilenko, for a shoulder problem, and Mattek-Sands, because of nausea. Mattek-Sands' level did fall, and the Russian engaged in some pretty fancy shot-making toward the end of the match. She took it, 7-5, 6-4, and reached the quarterfinals for the first time in her career.
After the match, when Kirilenko said she enjoyed the Parisian wave, fans did one just for her.
In doubles, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Flavia Pennetta were defeated by Kristina Mladenovic and Galina Voskoboeva, and Francesca Schiavone and Sam Stosur were knocked out by Cara Black and Marina Erakovic. Top seeds and defending champions Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci advanced to the 3rd round.
Here is the quarterfinal singles draw:
Serena Williams (1) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova
Agnieszka Radwanska (4) vs. Sara Errani (5)
Maria Kirilenko (12) vs. Victoria Azarenka (3)
Jelena Jankovic (18) vs. Maria Sharapova (2)
Three former champions remain in the draw.
2 comments:
The Road to Roland Garros interviews may have jinxed a lot of players, but now I think I may have been the one who jinxed Schiavone/Stosur and Kuznetsova/Pennetta!
Beth
Careful, Beth--we're moving toward the end of the tournament :)
Post a Comment