Sharapova Inches Closer to French Open Finals With Win Over Zakopalova
June 4, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Second-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia defeated the Czech Republic’s Klara Zakopalova in a three-hour, 11-minute battle in action Monday at the 2012 French Open, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2. Sharapova hit 53 unforced errors to just 38 winners, and converted on just 12 of 31 break points, and served for the match twice in the second set, at 5-4 and 6-5.
"I thought my opponent played extremely well … I’ve played her a few times already and that’s the best she’s ever played against me," said Sharapova. "She’s dangerous. She has had some very good wins before, so she’s confident. On top of that, some days she goes out there and just goes for it, and it seems like everything just goes in and stays so low over the net. I had chances to finish it in two sets and I didn’t. But I came out strong in the third set, and that’s what matters. It’s nice to be in the quarterfinals again."
Sharapova advances to face 23rd-ranked Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, a 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 winner over Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.
