Sharapova marches into Tianjin Open semis
TIANJIN: Maria Sharapova equalled her best performance since returning from a doping suspension as she breezed into the Tianjin Open semi-finals.
The Russian easily defeated Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-1 in 64 minutes yesterday and the former world No. 1 will face China’s Peng Shuai in the last four.
Sharapova returned in April from a 15-month suspension for taking the banned substance meldonium.
In her first tournament back, in Stuttgart, she made it to the semi-finals but has been unable to repeat that feat again, until now.
The 30-year-old, ranked 86 in the world, was granted a wildcard for Tianjin because her ranking was too low. “Obviously she really likes playing here and is the defending champion so she feels really good about the court and the atmosphere,” Sharapova said of Peng Shuai, according to the WTA website.
Peng Shuai, the third seed and reigning Tianjin champion, will offer a far sterner test than 196-ranked Voegele.
Sharapova and Peng Shuai have played one another six times before, with the Russian winning five of them.
Home hope Peng Shuai thrashed Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-0, 6-1 in their quarter-final.
In the other semi-final on Saturday, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays Italian qualifier Sara Errani.
■ HONG KONG: Daria Gavrilova reached the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open for the second year in succession after a “silly” second-set meltdown and an error-strewn win against teenager Lizette Cabrera yesterday.
The Australian world No. 22 eventually came through 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, but only after an almighty struggle with her serve, a string of unforced errors and her own state of mind.
She will play American Jennifer Brady on Saturday for a place in the final.
There was no sign of the drama to come when the 23-year-old raced through the first set 6-1 against her fellow Australian ranked 155.
But the Russian-born seventh seed grew increasingly petulant in a second set where she committed 20 unforced errors.
She took out her frustration on everyone including her father and coach Alexei Gavrilov at courtside, the crowd, the line judges and even a ball boy.
”I lost my focus,” admitted the world number 22. “I said something silly to my dad. And I was just angry with myself.”
And when, on losing the set, she threw her racquet at her chair it brought a chorus of boos from the normally respectful centre court crowd in Victoria Park.
The third set was littered with double faults and unforced errors from both players.
”I could have finished it a bit earlier in the third set. I did not play great tennis at all,” confessed Gavrilova in an honest assessment.
In the end Gavrilova sneaked over the line despite serving 16 double faults and having her serve broken five times. — AFP