Ana Ivanovic earned a showdown with Kim Clijsters in the Cincinnati Open semi-finals after progressing along with Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Maria Sharapova on Friday.
Serbian former world No. 1 Ivanovic, looking in-form and confident, comfortably defeated Uzbek qualifier Akgul Amanmuradova 6-1, 6-3 to reach her second semi-final of the year.
The unseeded Ivanovic, who reached the last four in the Italian Open in Rome, won 22 of 24 first service points and looked composed throughout.
PHOTO: AFP
“I think it has to do with confidence. You know, once you feel confident that you’ve got a game out there and you’ve got tools, you can fall back on those,” she said.
“At the moment, I feel if my forehand isn’t working, I can fall back on something else; if that’s not working I can fall back on my movement, and just trying to get to the balls and somehow get them back,” the Serb said.
Clijsters, who is preparing to defend her US Open crown later this month, was pushed all the way by 11th seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta before clinching a 7-6, 6-4 victory.
Clijsters, who launched her comeback at this event last year, made 39 unforced errors and conceded she was not at her best.
“The errors are there because I still don’t feel that everything is going naturally they way that I would want it to go. I’m really just trying to work for each point,” she said.
Sharapova had little to worry about in her defeat of France’s Marion Bartoli, with the Russian producing a blistering service game, winning 29 of 30 first serve points and smashing nine aces in her 6-1, 6-4 victory.
The three-times Grand Slam winner will face a tough semi-final after Pavlyuchenkova displayed the temperament of a veteran to beat Belgian 12th seed Yanina Wickmayer 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.
She was 5-1 down in the first set, but saved three set points to rally back superbly, winning six successive games.
Wickmayer, who later said she had felt weak in her legs and drained in the midday heat, called for the courtside doctor when she was 6-5 down.
There was an almost identical start to the second with Wickmayer going 5-0 up, before Pavlyuchenkova again battled back though the Belgian forced it into a decider.
Buoyed by her spirited resilience, the 19-year-old Russian powered through the third to take her place in the last four.
The teenager never doubted her ability to come back against Wickmayer, even when trailing 5-1 in the opening set.
“I guess I have always been like that since I was a little girl,” she said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely