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Sharapova advances to Italian Open Semis
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-14 16:07
Maria Sharapova finally won a quarterfinal match on clay. The Russian
teenager easily advanced to the Italian Open semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 victory
over countrywoman Elena Bovina on Friday. Sharapova failed to reach the semis in
six previous clay-court tournaments.
"I'm really excited," the top-seeded Sharapova said. "I'm playing better and
better as the tournament goes on, although I know it's going to be a lot tougher
in my next round."
Russia's Maria Sharapova reacts at the end of
her tennis match against compatriot Elena Bovina during the Italian
Masters tennis tournament in Rome May 13, 2005. Sharapova won the match
6-2 6-2.[Reuters] | At 18, Sharapova admits she
needs to keep working on her clay-court game. What better way than at the $1.3
million clay-court tuneup for the French Open, which starts May 23.
"I think having a year to work — I worked really hard physically — is paying
off," she said. "I feel a lot stronger on the clay, like I can play more matches
in a row, and still feel good physically."
Russia's Maria Sharapova returns the ball to
fellow Russian Elena Bovina during their quarter final match of the
women's Italian Open tennis tournament at Rome's Foro Italico, Friday, May
13, 2005. [AP] | She next faces eighth-seeded
Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, who cruised past Evgenia Linetskaya 6-1, 6-0.
In the other half of the draw, defending champion Amelie Mauresmo advanced
with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over four-time Italian Open winner Conchita Martinez.
Mauresmo will next meet sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia, who beat
unseeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy 7-5, 7-6 (4). Mauresmo beat Zvonareva in
the semifinals en route to her title here last year.
Sharapova can move past Lindsay Davenport for the No. 1 world ranking if she
wins this tournament. In her match Friday, Sharapova produced 21 winners to 11
for the ninth-seeded Bovina. Sharapova hasn't dropped a set in her first three
matches.
Russia's Elena Bovina reacts after losing a
point to fellow Russian Maria Sharapova during their quarter final match
of the women's Italian Open tennis tournament at Rome's Foro Italico,
Friday, May 13, 2005. [AP] | The second-seeded Mauresmo won the first set in just 28 minutes. In the
second, she jumped out to a 4-0 lead, then dropped two games before closing out
the contest on her first match point.
"I'm much more satisfied with today's match," Mauresmo said. "In the
beginning, she had some opportunities and it was important that I played my game
and didn't let her play."
Mauresmo has reached the final of this clay-court tournament the last four
years. The Frenchwoman also beat Martinez in the third round here last year.
"I've always played well here. It's unbelievable to do so well at a
tournament," Mauresmo said.
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