Australia’s Samantha Stosur beat top-seeded Serena Williams in a shock result at the WTA’s Bank of the West Classic on Friday.
Although Stosur, winner of 22 WTA doubles titles but no singles titles, reached the semi-finals of the French Open this year, the defeat of the Wimbledon champion was a significant upset.
“It’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest win of my career,” Stosur said of her 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory over the Wimbledon champion Williams. “We don’t always play our best tennis every single day. Maybe she didn’t play her best and I played very well.”
PHOTO: AP
Williams’ elder sister Venus beat Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-2.
In the other quarter-finals, third-seeded Elena Dementieva downed Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-4 and Marion Bartoli scraped past fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Stosur saved nine of 10 break points on Friday and played a steady game against Serena, who had a nine-match winning streak snapped. She will face Bartoli in the semi-finals.
Sharapova, who returned to the court earlier this year after a nine-month layoff, had 30 unforced errors in her loss. Venus had 14 winners, including three aces, against 17 unforced errors.
Bartoli, ranked No. 15, beat Jankovic for the fourth straight time and improved to 10-3 against her. Dementieva of Russia will face Venus in the semi-finals.
■LA OPEN
REUTERS, LOS ANGELES
Top-seeded German Tommy Haas survived a see-sawing opening set to beat Russian Marat Safin 7-6, 6-2 on Friday and book his place in the semi-finals of the LA Open.
Tournament champion in 2004 and 2006, Haas broke his eighth-seeded opponent in the fifth and seventh games of the second set to seal victory in one hour, 49 minutes to set up a meeting in the last four with American Sam Querrey.
Sixth seed Querrey upset fourth-seeded Israeli Dudi Sela 6-3, 7-5 on a sun-splashed afternoon, breaking his opponent once in each set.
Earlier, little-known Australian qualifier Carsten Ball eased into his first ATP semi-final with a 6-4, 6-4 win against towering American John Isner.
The 22-year-old left-hander, whose father and coach is former Australian professional Syd Ball, twice broke Isner to become the first qualifier to reach the last four in Los Angeles in a decade.
Ball will next meet Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer, who gained a walkover into the last four when second-seeded American Mardy Fish pulled out on Friday because of an abdominal strain.
■CROATIA OPEN
AP, UMAG, CROATIA
Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko saved five set points in the first set on Friday before reaching the semi-finals of the Croatia Open with a 7-6 (10), 6-1 win over Simone Bolelli of Italy.
Bolelli had two set points at 6-5 and three more in the tiebreaker.
Davydenko will next face fourth-seeded Jurgen Melzer of Austria, who saved four match points to oust Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
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Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
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Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
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