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Sharapova reaches Istanbul semi-finals

Russia's Nikolay Davydenko focuses on the ball while returning to Juan Monaco from Argentina during their quarter-final match at the Hypo Group International tennis tournament in Poertschach, Austria, on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Russian top seed Maria Sharapova reached the semi-finals of the US$200,000 WTA Istanbul tournament with a hard-won victory over Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday.

The world No. 2 beat the seventh-seeded Pole 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, but a shoulder injury that had kept her away from the courts since March appeared to still strain her performance, just days before the French Open.

"My shoulder is still aching a little bit. Let's see how I will do tomorrow," she said of yesterday's semi-final against France's Aravane Rezai, whom she described as "a young player who has nothing to lose against me."

Radwanska, 18, mounted a spirited challenge against Sharapova in the second set, breaking her three times and eventually winning 6-3.

Sharapova came back in the third set but she had to fight hard for each point as Radwanska never let up the pressure.

"My opponent was really very tough," Sharapova said. "There were lots of ups and downs in the game."

Rezai, who ousted fourth-seeded Venus Williams, continued her winning series on Thursday, defeating another American player, Meghann Shaughnessy, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.

In the other semi-final scheduled for yesterday, second-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia will face the No. 5, Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko.

Dementieva struggled in her quarter-final match against Catalina Castano of Colombia, but eventually prevailed 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Bondarenko reached the semis without putting up a fight as her rival, third-seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland pulled out of the tournament because of a right thigh injury ahead of the match.

"I decided to withdraw from the tournament after the pain in my right thigh muscle increased during the night and continued this morning," Schnyder said.

She said, however, that she still planned to attend the French Open, which starts in Paris tomorrow.

Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) came back from an early stumble on Thursday to beat US player Madison Brengle in the French Open qualifier 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Hsieh had a similar match yesterday, beating Estonian Maret Ani 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to earn a chance to play Hungarian Agnes Szavay in the fourth round.

Defending champion Nikolay Davydenko and second-seeded Andy Roddick both lost their quarter-final matches on Thursday at the Hypo Group International.

Davydenko was beaten by Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4, while Roddick lost to wildcard Gael Monfils of France 7-5, 6-3.

Fourth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt advanced after defeating Diego Hartfield of Argentina 6-2, 6-2, and will play Monfils in the semi-finals.

Also through to the semi-finals was Luis Horna of Peru, who beat Albert Montanes of Spain 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-1.

Davydenko never found his rhythm against the 47th-ranked Monaco after going 4-0 behind in the first set.

The top-seeded Russian still won a tight second set, but Monaco dominated the decider again and converted his first match point.

"Monaco got off to a quick start which made it very hard to fight my way back into the match," Davydenko said. "I was almost exhausted after winning the second set, and had not enough power left for the third."

Monfils beat Roddick in straight sets.

"I am very happy with my performance this week -- it is a real confidence booster for me," Monfils said.

The 20-year-old French player is coming back after seven months out with foot and ankle injuries.

"I knew how to play Roddick as I beat him last year," Monfils said. "I am tall and can reach a lot of his serves."

Monfils had eight aces and was successful with strong forehands and drop shots from the baseline.

The second-seeded Roddick was broken for the first time in the tournament while serving for the first set at 5-4. Another break by the 75th-ranked Monfils won him the first set.

Roddick missed three break points in the first game of the second set, and suffered another break immediately afterward. He then got warned for smashing his racket to the court.

Roddick missed two more chances on Monfils' service at 4-1 down.

"I was actually hitting the ball better than in my previous matches here," Roddick said. "Normally you win the point when you hit the ball in a corner three times -- but not so against Monfils. He's a great athlete and seems to get every ball back."

Hewitt broke Hartfield two times to build a 3-0 lead in the first set.

"It was very important for me to start well and put him under immediate pressure," Hewitt said.

Hartfield broke back once, but got hardly any chances in the service games of Hewitt, who ended the match with an ace on his first match point.

Top seed Amelie Mauresmo overcame her French compatriot Emilie Loit 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 to seal a place in the semi-finals of the WTA tournament on Thursday.

Mauresmo, who is using this event on clay to prepare for the French Open, was set to face the winner of Thursday night's quarter-final between France's Marion Bartoli and Russia's Elena Vesnina.

Mauresmo said afterwards: "I had a real battle today. It was a close match, I started well but then I let things go a bit although I played better than yesterday. I'll need to get better towards the end of this week."

The winner of the Australian Open and Wimbledon last year Mauresmo is appearing here after suffering a second round shock to Australia's Samantha Stosur last week.
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