Sharapova majestic but Li awaits in semis
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, January 23, 2013
Maria Sharapova has lost only nine games in five matches on the way to the semifinals at the Australian Open. Always the perfectionist, she sees room for improvement.
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Nobody has conceded fewer games than Sharapova on the way to the semifinals at the Australian Open. |
Sharapova beat fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-2 yesterday and was asked afterward if she'd lost focus in only a few games this tournament. "No, I'd probably say more," she said, "but that's probably because I'm critical."
If that's the case, she's a pretty tough taskmaster.
After opening with pair of 6-0, 6-0 wins, Sharapova beat seven-time major winner Venus Williams 6-1, 6-3 in the third round and Belgian Kristen Flipkens 6-0, 6-1 in the fourth.
Nobody has conceded fewer games on the way to the semifinals at the Australian Open, and her impressive streak comes after having played in no warm-up tournaments due to a right collarbone injury.
But after having advanced to the final here last year, losing to Victoria Azarenka in lopsided fashion, Sharapova is taking nothing for granted. "To be honest, those are not the stats you want to be known for," Sharapova said, adding that she was more concerned about adding a fifth grand slam title to her haul.
Sharapova's semifinal opponent will be Li Na, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5, 6-3 in the first quarterfinal, breaking the Polish player's 13-match winning streak to start the season.
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Li Na prepares to eat a sausage she cooked on a barbecue at the players' cafe after her victory. |
Novak Djokovic spent half the time on Rod Laver Arena last night than he did in his previous round, beating Tomas Berdych 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to advance to a semifinal against David Ferrer.
Djokovic needed five sets and 5 hours, 2 minutes to beat Stanislas Wawrinka in a fourth-round match on Sunday, but showed little rustiness from that late finish to complete the win over Berdych in 2:31.
It was two-time defending champion Djokovic's 19th consecutive win at Melbourne Park. "It was a great performance," said the Serb. "I was hoping to have a shorter match."
The No. 4-seeded Ferrer survived once in the third set and twice in the fourth when No. 10 Nicolas Almagro was serving for the match, holding firm to finally advance to his fourth semifinal in six grand slam events with a 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-2 win.
The quarterfinals on the other half of the women's draw will be held today, with American teenager Sloane Stephens taking on Serena Williams and defending champion Azarenka playing Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.
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