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Sharapova Reclaims No. 1 as Errani's Fantastico French Open Continues
By Erik Gudris
Photo Credit: AFP/Patrick Kovarik
(June 7, 2012) --
Maria Sharapova
returned to No. 1 in the world with a command performance against
Petra Kvitova
in the semifinals of Roland Garros this afternoon.
In windy but sunny conditions that followed a lengthy rain shower earlier in the morning, both players got off to ragged starts as they each tried to keep their powerful shots from going long. But it was Sharapova who handled the conditions better as she earned the first break of serve in the match to go up 4-2. Sharapova earned another break of serve at love to take the first set 6-3.
Sharapova saved an early break point on her serve in the second set before holding and it was Kvitova who surrendered the first break with a double fault. Sharapova jumped out to a 3-1 lead but Kvitova climbed back to 3-all and appeared to be seizing the momentum.
But a key moment occurred in the next game when a Kvitova shot was called long to give Sharapova a 4-3 lead though an unofficial Hawk-Eye review showed the shot to be in. Rattled by the call, Kvitova committed several unforced errors in the next game to give Sharapova another break of serve for 5-3.
Sharapova never let go of her advantage as she served out the match with a second serve ace to earn a 6-3, 6-3 victory and with it a return to the No. 1 ranking that she last held in June of 2008. Sharapova now enters the French Open finals for the first time in her career as she aims to complete a career Grand Slam.
Errani's Dream Run in Paris Continues
Before this year's French Open, Italy's
Sara Errani
had only won one match in her career at the most famous clay court event in the world. Now Errani is only one match away from winning the biggest title of her career as her incredible run to the women's finals of Roland Garros continued today.
Errani, who was 0-5 lifetime against her semifinal opponent No. 6 seed
Sam Stosur
, was a heavy underdog going into the match, but with an improved game that saw her defeat the likes of
Ana Ivanovic
,
Svetlana Kuznetsova
, and
Angelique Kerber
earlier in the event, the No. 21 seed Errani proved she had the ability to make things difficult for the former French Open finalist.
Stosur broke Errani's serve to open up an early 2-0 lead, but she was broken straight back. Both women remained on serve, but it was nervy errors from Stosur that allowed Errani to break again for a 6-5 lead. With a forehand winner in the next game, Errani claimed the set.
Stosur, who was in danger of going down an early break in the second set, calmed down and began outhitting Errani from the baseline. The 2011 U.S. Open champion hit 6 aces and 17 winners to Errani's 4 winners allowing Stosur to steamroll through the second set 6-1
With both women 8-2 on the year in three set matches, the balance could have swung either way. For Stosur, the tension returned to her game as she unleashed multiple errors that gave Errani a quick 3-0 lead. But a passing shot winner that eventually earned Stosur her first game of the final set appeared to calm her as she then broke a nervous Errani. Soon it was 3-all, but Errani managed to hold serve for 4-3, shifting the momentum back in the Italian's favor. More errors from Stosur gave Errani the break for 5-3.
Serving for a chance to reach the finals, Errani calmly served it out to earn a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 win. It turns out the match was all on Stosur's racquet as she notched 46 winners and 48 unforced errors while Errani hit 22 winners and 21 unforced errors.
By reaching the finals, Errani will now enter the top ten for the first time in her career and will next face
Maria Sharapova
for the title.
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