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Tennis-Wimbledon-Sharapova bristles into semis

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 June 2005, 19:04 CDT

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - The decibel level went up a notch atWimbledon Tuesday as defending champion Maria Sharapova movedominously into the semi-finals.

After four rounds of gentle sparring, the 18-year-oldRussian was given a real battle early on by compatriot NadiaPetrova on Court One before emerging victorious 7-6 6-3.

"It was a tough match ... it sends shivers down my body tobe in the semi-finals again," she said, after securing a lastfour showdown with a revitalised Venus Williams who held off astirring Mary Pierce comeback to win 6-0 7-6.

While Sharapova's thunderbolts were accompanied by acacophony of ear-splitting yelps, it was the low rumbling ofworld number one Lindsay Davenport's seismic forehand thatechoed round Court One later.

The top seed carried on where she left off against KimClijsters in the fourth round to out-gun Russian fifth seedSvetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 6-3.

"It was important for me to consolidate the great win I hadyesterday, I thought I handled it pretty well," said 1999champion Davenport, who now has third seed Amelie Mauresmo inher sights after the Frenchwoman glided past battle-wearyRussian Anastasia Myskina 6-3 6-4.

Of the four Russians that reached the quarter-finals, onlythe Florida-processed Sharapova is still in the hunt.

"She has a big game, she is a great fighter, we'll justhave to go out and battle," said Sharapova of twice formerchampion Venus who has never lost a semi-final at Wimbledon.

Sharapova has become a worldwide brand since her stunningtriumph against Serena Williams in last year's final -- she hasjust launched her own perfume and strides the grass ingold-encrusted tennis shoes.

When she walks out on court, however, the multi-milliondollar smile is replaced by the ice-cold stare of an assassin.

Petrova, five years older than Sharapova, was notintimidated, matching the queen of grasscourts blow for blow inthe first 12 games to force a tiebreak.

The bristling Sharapova thrives on pressure, however, anddisplaying the sheer bloody-mindedness that is as much a weaponas her sizzling groundstrokes, she moved into a 6-4 lead.

Petrova saved both set points but Sharapova made no mistakeat 7-6, hammering an unstoppable forehand past the eighth seed.

She hurtled into a 3-0 lead in the second set and even whenPetrova threatened to break back at 3-5, Sharapova was blessedwith two lucky net cords as she closed out the match.

"I thanked the fairy for taking the ball and bringing itover the net," Sharapova said.

Venus, relegated to 14th seed this year, looked like theplayer who won consecutive Wimbledon titles in 2000 and 2001 asshe pulverised Pierce in the first set.

The 30-year-old Pierce came to her senses in the second setand even had five set points in a dramatic tiebreak beforeVenus edged it 12-10 on her second match point.

"She was hitting winners out of nowhere," said Venus.

"She didn't give me an inch in the second set so I had totake as much I could," added the relieved American.

LEAN AND MEAN

Davenport, 29, appeared on the verge of retiring this timelast year when she lost in the last four to Sharapova. Fit,lean and mean, she now looks the biggest threat to the Russian.

Kuznetsova, who beat Davenport in the semi-finals of theU.S. Open last year, has the game to write her name on theWimbledon roll of honor but never really threatened afterlosing the first set tiebreak.

"There's no question that physically I'm a better athleteand I believe a smarter player than I was in the lateNineties," said the Californian Davenport, who is certain tokeep her top ranking whatever happens between now and Sunday.

Davenport holds an 8-3 career lead over Mauresmo, althoughthe Frenchwoman has not dropped a set this year, fueling thebelief that she can win a long overdue grand slam title.

The 25-year-old was at her balletic best against the feistyMyskina as she skipped into the semi-finals for the third timein her past three visits.

"Maybe I'll make it one step further this year," saidMauresmo. "I really wanted to be aggressive in this match andthat's what I did from the first point."

Source: REUTERS

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