|
INDIAN WELLS, California: Svetlana Kuznetsova handed Maria Sharapova
her first defeat of 2008 on Friday to set up a clash with top-seeded
Ana Ivanovic in the finals of the Pacific Life Open.
Kuznetsova, the second seed, defeated
fourth-seeded Sharapova 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to return to the finals of the
$5.7-million-WTA and ATP Masters Series tournament for the second
straight year.
Serbia’s Ivanovic defeated third-seeded
compatriot Jelena Jankovic 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.
Last year, Kuznetsova finished runner-up to
Daniela Hantuchova, whose title defense was halted by Sharapova in
the quarterfinals.
That victory took Sharapova’s record in 2008
to 18-0—a sparkling run that included her Australian Open triumph
as well as a victory in the WTA tournament in Doha last month.
The 22-year-old Kuznetsova, ranked No. 3 in the
world, is in search of her first WTA title since New Haven last
August, but she booked her third final of the year after reaching
the championship match in Sydney in Dubai.
On the men’s side, world’s number one Roger
Federer moved into the semifinals without firing a shot as his
scheduled quarterfinal opponent - unseeded German Tommy Haas—withdrew
with a sinus infection.
In the semis, Federer will face unseeded
American Mardy Fish, who had to fight his way into the final four.
Fish, ranked 98th in the world, fired 22 aces en
route to a 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-4) win over seventh-seeded
Argentinian David Nalbandian.
World’s No. 2 and defending champion Rafael
Nadal will take on No. 3 Novak Djokovic, the reigning Australian
Open champion, in the other semifinal, a rematch of their final here
last year.
-- AFP
|
