Safina stuns Sharapova to throw title chase wide open
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
PARIS, June 3 (AFP): Dinara Safina sent top seed Maria Sharapova crashing out of the French Open on Monday to throw the Roland Garros title chase wide open.
Safina battled back from a set and 2-5 down, and also saved a match point, to see off her Russian compatriot 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 and reach the quarter-finals for the second time where she will meet countrywoman Elena Dementieva.
Seventh seed Dementieva, who was runner-up to Anastasia Myskina in 2004, made the last eight with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 win over yet another Russian Vera Zvonareva.
In the day's two remaining fourth round ties, Svetlana Kuznetsova, the Russian fourth seed, was leading Belarussian 16th seed Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-2 when fading light caused a suspension until Tuesday.
Safina battled back from a set and 2-5 down, and also saved a match point, to see off her Russian compatriot 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 and reach the quarter-finals for the second time where she will meet countrywoman Elena Dementieva.
Seventh seed Dementieva, who was runner-up to Anastasia Myskina in 2004, made the last eight with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 win over yet another Russian Vera Zvonareva.
In the day's two remaining fourth round ties, Svetlana Kuznetsova, the Russian fourth seed, was leading Belarussian 16th seed Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-2 when fading light caused a suspension until Tuesday.