Sharapova Rolls Into Brisbane Semis

Maria Sharapova continued her hot start to the 2015 season, rolling into the Brisbane International semifinals with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 victory over seventh-seeded Carla Suarez-Navarro in Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup.

The top-seeded Russian has had some trouble with Suarez-Navarro in the past, losing to her at the Rogers Cup last summer, but disregarded the past to completely dominate the one hour and eight minute match.

“We went back and forth with our victories in 2014 so I’m always a little bit aware of girls that I lose to,” said Sharapova. “I certainly know that she’s capable of playing really well, though. She plays defense great and makes you hit a lot of balls. Especially on a slower court like here, you just don’t want to give her that much time to play her game.

I thought I did a good job of that today.”

Sharapova broke the Spaniard five times on her way to the straight set triumph. She will meet Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the final four. Svitolina eliminated third-seeded Angelique Kerber on Wednesday.

The other Brisbane semi will pit second-seeded Ana Ivanovic against American Varvara Lepchenko.

Ivanovic struggled early in her match, as Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first set before eventually winning the opening frame 6-4. The Serb fought back in the first set to make the score look more respectable, and carried that momentum into the final two sets to outlast Kanepi.

“I definitely had very slow start. I felt like I was hitting the ball all right, but I was just missing the easy put-aways,” said Ivanovic of her early struggles. “I nearly came back in the first set, but was really happy I kept my composure for the second and definitely in the third to stay on top.”

Lepchenko knocked off Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia 7-5, 7-5 to reach the semis.

At the Shenzhen Open, both top seeds made their way into the semifinals with wins on Thursday.

Top-seeded Simona Halep rolled past young sensation Aleksandra Krunic 6-3, 6-3. The Romanian won five break points and saved three of her own to hold off the 21-year-old Serbian.

Halep will now take on Saisai Zheng , the lone Chinese player left in the draw, in the semifinals. Zheng came back to upset fourth-seeded Zarina Dayas 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 and set up the clash with Halep.

Petra Kvitova edged fellow Czech Tereza Smitkova 7-5, 6-4 to reach the final four. The second-seeded Kvitova saved four of five break point chances to hold off her compatriot.

She will take on eighth-seeded Timea Bacsinszky, who walked through after Russia’s Vera Zvonareva was forced to retire.

Over in New Zealand, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki pushed into the ASB Classic semifinals with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Germany’s Julia Goerges. A contrast of styles saw Goerges using her powerful serve against Wozniacki’s excellent return game, with the Dane coming out on top.

Despite seven aces and no double-faults from Goerges, Wozniacki notched four break points in crucial junctures to push through.

“I just kept fighting. I tried to be more consistent than her, and I think I managed to do that,” said Wozniacki, who had dropped three of the four previous meetings with Goerges. “Sometimes you need to know your strengths and your weaknesses. And I think I served well today as well. She’s got some big shots, so I’m just happy to be through to my first semifinals here.”

In the semis, she will face fourth-seeded Czech Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova, who notched a 6-4, 7-5 straight-set win over seventh-seeded American Coco Vandeweghe.

Venus Williams pushed through to the semifinals as well on Thursday, rolling past Russia’s Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-4. The third-seeded American won the final four games of the match after facing a 2-4 deficit in the second-set.

“Things seemed to be going on serve, but then she had a big game for a break and another big game for a hold, and things were getting really interesting,” said Williams. “She was really picking up her level. But after that, I don’t know, the games came and then it was over.”

Williams takes on fellow American Lauren Davis in the semifinals. Davis came back from a rough first set to defeat Poland’s Urszula Radwanska 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.