Former world No.1 Maria Sharapova is through to the French Open semi-finals after a straight-sets defeat of 15th seed Andrea Petkovic 6-0, 6-3 on Wednesday.
The seventh seed, who has not played in a grand slam final since winning the 2008 Australian Open, broke in the opening game and never looked back. A toilet break failed to change momentum, though Petkovic held to love to put herself on the board in the ninth game of the match.
The German, who showed a lot of heart, broke to level the set twice at 2-2 and 3-3 before the in-form Russian raced away to claim the match as a Petkovic forehand sailed into the net.
Sharapova will next meet sixth seed Li Na after the Chinese woman beat the highest-ranked remaining player, Victoria Azarenka, 7-5, 6-2.
Li, who defeated Azarenka in straight sets in the round of 16 at the Australian Open this year en route to the final, exchanged breaks with the fourth seed before breaking Azarenka to love at 6-5, claiming set point with a backhand winner.
On her third match point, Li broke to claim victory as the Belarusian hit an unforced error off her backhand.
Sharapova has a 5-2 head-to-head record against Li, which includes a three-set victory in the fourth round of the 2009 French Open. Li has won the pair’s two most recent meetings – in 2009 and 2010 on grass in Birmingham.
Meanwhile, the first Italian woman to win a grand slam is two wins away from doubling her collection of silverware. Francesca Schiavone – the reigning Roland Garros champion – credits her age and subsequent experience for getting her to the final four.
The fifth seed, who faces 11th seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli in a semi-final on Thursday, says clay is the most forgiving surface and allows opponents back into a duel. The 30-year-old acknowledged her on-court emotions, saying it is a part of who she is.
"I live and I love tennis when I can express myself. I am transparent so you can understand how I play and how I feel."
The seventh seed, who has not played in a grand slam final since winning the 2008 Australian Open, broke in the opening game and never looked back. A toilet break failed to change momentum, though Petkovic held to love to put herself on the board in the ninth game of the match.
The German, who showed a lot of heart, broke to level the set twice at 2-2 and 3-3 before the in-form Russian raced away to claim the match as a Petkovic forehand sailed into the net.
Sharapova will next meet sixth seed Li Na after the Chinese woman beat the highest-ranked remaining player, Victoria Azarenka, 7-5, 6-2.
Li, who defeated Azarenka in straight sets in the round of 16 at the Australian Open this year en route to the final, exchanged breaks with the fourth seed before breaking Azarenka to love at 6-5, claiming set point with a backhand winner.
On her third match point, Li broke to claim victory as the Belarusian hit an unforced error off her backhand.
Sharapova has a 5-2 head-to-head record against Li, which includes a three-set victory in the fourth round of the 2009 French Open. Li has won the pair’s two most recent meetings – in 2009 and 2010 on grass in Birmingham.
Meanwhile, the first Italian woman to win a grand slam is two wins away from doubling her collection of silverware. Francesca Schiavone – the reigning Roland Garros champion – credits her age and subsequent experience for getting her to the final four.
The fifth seed, who faces 11th seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli in a semi-final on Thursday, says clay is the most forgiving surface and allows opponents back into a duel. The 30-year-old acknowledged her on-court emotions, saying it is a part of who she is.
"I live and I love tennis when I can express myself. I am transparent so you can understand how I play and how I feel."
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