Client News
In-form Sharapova races into semi-finals
Beijing, 23 September 2005 - Maria Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko moved into an all-Russian semi-final at the China Open with straight-set wins over Asian opposition on Friday.
Top seed Sharapova defeated Japan’s Shinobu Asagoe 6-4, 6-1 while Kirilenko beat the last remaining Chinese player, Sun Tiantian, 6-1, 6-3.
The two Russians, close friends off the court, have played only once, with Sharapova capturing a second-round victory in Los Angeles last month.
World No.1 Sharapova faced a minor crisis in the first set against Asagoe, failing to serve out the opening set from a 5-4 position of strength, but broke back to take it a game later against the No.39.
Sharapova ended the encounter in 66 minutes, breaking on five of 11 chances and striking her fourth ace in the last game as she served it out.
“I made a good start and overcame some serving difficulties in the first set and then in the second set I played really aggressively,” said Sharapova.
Looking ahead to the semi-final, she added: “It’s difficult to play someone you know very well but any semi-final is competitive. Maria Kirilenko is an up and coming player and she has played very well this week.”
Kirilenko, a fellow 18-year-old whose star has not risen quite as quickly as that of Sharapova, was in impressive form against Sun on Centre Court at the Beijing Tennis Centre.
The match was paused a few moments when Kirilenko stood three points from victory as light drizzle made the lines slick. But a quick application of towels by the ballboys and ballgirls put things right.
The 45th-ranked Russian reached her second semi-final of 2005 as she won playing her first quarter-final since February.
The defeat came as a disappointment to Sun, who was fresh off a stunning upset of seven-time grand slam champion Serena Williams in the second round.
Sun’s defeat ended China’s hopes of a home victory after Peng Shuai had exited the tournament in the day’s first quarter-final, beaten 7-5, 6-1 by Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
The German benefitted from a place in the draw when Lindsay Davenport withdrew injured. Now she’s set for her fourth semi-final of the season after striking eight aces and breaking Chinese No.1 Peng twice in a 77-minute victory.
“It was a difficult match today,” said Groenefeld as she paid tribute to Peng, who stood a career-high 31st a month ago, the best rank ever for a Chinese player, “Especially when she led 5-3 with a set point [in the first]. She’s a good player. You have to play your best to beat her.”
Groenefeld will play on Saturday against Poland’s Marta Domachowska, who advanced when third seed Venus Williams had to pull out with a knee injury sustained in her second-round match on Thursday.
“The China Open is proving to be a showcase for the world’s best young players,” said tournament director Ekkehard Rathgeber.
“Kirilenko is 18, Domachowska is 19 and Groenefeld is 20 – and here they all are in the semi-finals of a WTA event. It is very exciting that these young stars are emerging in Beijing and I’m sure tennis fans are going to be hearing a lot more about them in the future.”
Rathgeber, who is also Chief Operating Officer of tournament co-organiser TOM Group Limited, an associate of Hutchison Whampoa, added: “Naturally, Chinese fans will be disappointed that Peng and Sun were unable to reach the semi-finals, but both women played some great tennis this week and they have certainly enhanced their reputations.”
-- ENDS --
Released on behalf of TOM Group and the China Open by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.