Serena-Sharapova Semis Set at Brisbane International

January 2, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit : Adam Wolfthal

Number three-seeded Maria Sharapova and the top seeded Serena Williams will face each other in semifinals of the Brisbane International after Sharapova was a winner over Kaia Kanepi in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, and Serena scored a 6-3, 6-3 win over the number nine seed, Dominika Cibulkova.

"It felt really good," Serena said after her victory. "She was returning really well. She stays so low to the ground and does so many good things, especially off the ground. She's so powerful. So of all opponents, I definitely wouldn't have expected to do so well on serve against her. But I was able to serve really well today."

Serena has dominated Sharapova in their career head-to-head with a 14-2 edge, having won the last 13 over Sharapova.

"I haven't had a lot of success against her in the past," Sharapova said. "But it's the first tournament of the year. I came here wanting to play as many matches as I could and wanting to play the best. There's no substitute for getting ready for a Grand Slam than competing against the best. She's been on a roll the last couple of years with her level. I competed against her a few times last year; didn't work. You always hope that you can go out and give yourself a chance to do better next time."

Also in Brisbane, the fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic got past the fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber, 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-1, and the second-seeded Victoria Azarenka was a 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-1 winner over Stefanie Voegele. Azarenka leads Jankovic in their head-to-head, 5-4, though Jankovic won the last meeting.


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