India's Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis of Switzerland won their respective quarterfinal matches at the Sunfeast Open on Friday to set up a semi-final showdown.
Russian Olga Poutchkova will clash with Iroda Tulyaganova of Uzbekistan in the other semi-final.
Mirza defeated the not-fully-fit Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai 6-4, 7-5.
The match began on an even note with both players exchanging breaks for the first three games. However, Mirza held her serve on the fourth game to go 3-2 up. Rezai drew level again in the eighth game when she capitalised on a long return from the Indian to break make it 4-4.
But a weak serve and a weaker forehand from Rezai meant Mirza earning a crucial break. The Indian held serve to take the set 6-4.
The second set was a flier for the French lass. She went 4-1 up with one break in her kitty. And then lady luck chose to desert her and while stretching to return a forehand she hurt her shoulder.
Two games later and the break evened out, she called for medical attention.
Even after being attended by the physiotherapist Rezai looked to be in considerable pain as she winced.
She returned, but the shoulder visibly hurt with every serve and forehand.
Earlier, a partisan crowd with constant shouts 'Sania-Sania' in between serves was a cause for concern for the world number 66.
Mirza walloped the final game with three big forehands to take the set and the match.
"There was very little difference between the two of us today. Just a few points here and there. Rezai has a great backhand too, which matches my forehand. We are both aggressive players," Mirza said after the match.
"Right now, I am just happy to be in the semifinals.
"I was trying to avoid playing backhand to backhand, as that point I would have never won."
Rezai said she had been serving a lot during her practice, which resulted in a sore muscle.
"It was difficult to serve today. I played badly too. Mirza was certainly a better player. But one is not a machine and can't go on playing good everyday."
World number 9 Hingis took 78 minutes to sail into the semis beating Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 7-5, 6-2.
Tanasugarn went 3-0 up in the first set with a break in the opening game but Hingis struck back, breaking her in the fourth to draw level. Thereafter, both the players held serve till the 10th game when Hingis broke her.
With another break in the 12th game, Hingis pocketed the first set 7-5.
It was easy going for Hingis in the second set. She held her serve with ease.
On her coming match with Mirza, Hingis said: "It's going to be a big match and I am looking forward to it. She has a big forehand and I will have to something special to keep her thinking."
Asked about her strategy for the match, the Swiss said: "I will not reveal that now. But I need to keep her on the run. She is a very aggressive player and I will have to adapt myself."
In the other matches Poutchkova brushed aside Italian Alberta Brianti 7-5, 6-3 while Tulyaganova got the better of Alla Kudryavtseva 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment