Serena topples Maria
Serena (above): Improves to 5-2 overall against Sharapova. Picture: Agencies
Sunday, April 20, 2008
SERENA WILLIAMS continued her domination of Maria Sharapova with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 win in the quarter-finals of the US$1.3 million WTA Family Circle Cup on Friday.
Serena improved to 5-2 overall against the Russian, who lost for just the second time in 26 matches in 2008.
"In the third set I started to play the Serena game," said the fifth seeded American who has now won four straight against Sharapova. "I'm not new to this."
The tournament lost its top seed and defending champion as Serbian Jelena Jankovic was eliminated by ninth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
The defeat left Jankovic still in search of her first title of the 2008 season.
Zvonareva advanced to a meeting with fourth-seeded compatriot Elena Dementieva, who defeated seventh-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-4.
Serena, 26, will face France's Alize Cornet, a 7-5, 6-4 winner over Hungarian Agnes Szavay.
Serena, the former World No 1 is attempting to capture her third consecutive tournament at this clay court event, having won consecutive titles in Bangalore and Miami.
"This is definitely a big win, but I still want to win the next round and win the tournament," said Serena, who is ranked ninth in the world.
Facing Serena for the first time on clay, Sharapova was in control early and served for the first set at 5-4.
Serena, however, reeled off the next three games including two breaks to steal the set.
"I was lucky to hang in there during the first set," said Serena, who is 17-1 this season. "In the third set I finally started to play the Serena game."
Sharapova, the Australian Open champion, rebounded to even the match at one set apiece, but Serena dominated the decisive third set, opening up a commanding 5-0 lead en route to the win.
Sharapova's record against Serena is just one of two losing marks against current players ranked within the Top 10, the other being her 3-6 record against World No 1 Justine Henin.AFP
Serena improved to 5-2 overall against the Russian, who lost for just the second time in 26 matches in 2008.
"In the third set I started to play the Serena game," said the fifth seeded American who has now won four straight against Sharapova. "I'm not new to this."
The tournament lost its top seed and defending champion as Serbian Jelena Jankovic was eliminated by ninth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
The defeat left Jankovic still in search of her first title of the 2008 season.
Zvonareva advanced to a meeting with fourth-seeded compatriot Elena Dementieva, who defeated seventh-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-4.
Serena, 26, will face France's Alize Cornet, a 7-5, 6-4 winner over Hungarian Agnes Szavay.
Serena, the former World No 1 is attempting to capture her third consecutive tournament at this clay court event, having won consecutive titles in Bangalore and Miami.
"This is definitely a big win, but I still want to win the next round and win the tournament," said Serena, who is ranked ninth in the world.
Facing Serena for the first time on clay, Sharapova was in control early and served for the first set at 5-4.
Serena, however, reeled off the next three games including two breaks to steal the set.
"I was lucky to hang in there during the first set," said Serena, who is 17-1 this season. "In the third set I finally started to play the Serena game."
Sharapova, the Australian Open champion, rebounded to even the match at one set apiece, but Serena dominated the decisive third set, opening up a commanding 5-0 lead en route to the win.
Sharapova's record against Serena is just one of two losing marks against current players ranked within the Top 10, the other being her 3-6 record against World No 1 Justine Henin.AFP
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