Sharapova to Face Kvitova in French Open Semis

Second-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova, a French Open semifinalist in 2007 and 2011, defeated Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals of the 2012 French Open. Awaiting Sharapova in the seims is the number four seed, Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic, a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 winner over Kazakh qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova. Sharapova can reclaim the world number one spot if she gets to Saturday’s final for the first time since 2008. Although, that will involve her going one stage further than she has ever managed to go before. It will definitely be a challenge.

Sharapova’s best performance at the French Open came last year when she fell in the semifinals to eventual champion Li Na. Kanepi, earlier defeated former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.
Sharapova wasted the opportunity to serve out the match in the eighth game when she was broken to love, but it was a brief respite for the 26-year-old Estonian who hit a forehand wide to give Sharapova the tie in the next.
Qualifier Shvedova knocked out defending champion Li Na in the fourth round, but Kvitova proved too much for the world number 142-ranked Shvedova. Shvedova was eager to become the first qualifier to make the semifinals at Roland Garros and she got off to a good start against Kvitova and was even 4-2 ahead in the deciding set before she wilted.

"Every point that we played was really tough," Kvitova said.

Kvitova held in the seventh game of the decider and immediately put pressure on Shvedova’s serve to level the match at 4-4, followed by a crucial hold. Serving at 4-5, nerves got the better of Shvedova, allowing the world number four to convert her second match point for a place in the semifinals.

The third Grand Slam clash within a year will be Kvitova’s clash with Sharapova on Thursday. The Czech had a great win in the Wimbledon final before Sharapova defeated the Czech in the Australian Open semifinals. Sharapova enjoyed a straight sets victory in the semifinals on clay in Stuttgart in the runner-up to Paris. Thursday’s other semifinal sees Australia’s Samantha Stosur face Sara Errani of Italy for a trip to the 2012 French Open Finals.