Sharapova reaches semis
June 18, 2007 00:00:00
Maria Sharapova claimed Saturday two victories in a day to reach the semi-finals of the rain-hit DFS Classic at Edgbaston, reports BBC.
The 2004 Wimbledon champion began by beating Tamira Paszek 6-3 4-6 6-2 in a much-delayed third-round match which lasted two hours and four minutes.
She had an easier time against Elena Likhovtseva, seeing off her fellow Russian 6-2 6-3 to reach the last four.
Serbian second seed Jelena Jankovic and Italy's Mara Santangelo, seeded eighth, also made it through to the semis.
Sharapova said: "Mentally, you have to be ready for a very long day. You have to be ready no matter how many stops there are.
"But it's difficult to come out not having played for two days. I got sloppy in the first match, but I was much better in the second."
World number three Jankovic made it six wins out of six in the last 12 months in her meetings with Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko.
Bondarenko produced a fine array of groundstrokes but did not have the serve to seriously trouble Jankovic, who dodged the showers to gain a 6-4 6-3 victory.
Eighth seed Santangelo defeated China's Na Li 6-2 7-5 to set up a semi-final meeting with Jankovic.
Santangelo was two points away from taking the first set of her quarter-final when the match was held up by the third rain interruption of the day.
She duly wrapped up the set when play resumed 90 minutes later and wasted two match points before securing the victory after 67 minutes.
Third seed Daniela Hantuchova will face French fifth seed Marion Bartoli in the remaining quarter-final Sunday with the winner to play Sharapova.
Hantuchova earlier beat Eleni Daniliidou 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to reach the last eight.