Women's Semis Preview: Sharapova Goes for No. 1

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty Images

(June 6th, 2012) The battle between the unexpected and the status quo could well be the theme for this year's women's event at Roland Garros. That's certainly reflected in the semifinal pairings that feature two first time semifinalists who are both complete surprises while the other two semifinalists lived up to their top seed billing even though some thought they might bow out early.

No. 6 seed Sam Stosur vs. No. 21 seed Sara Errani

Sara Errani surprised many by reaching her first Major semifinal and none more so than her early round opponents including in order, Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Angelique Kerber who all at one time in their respective losing efforts against Errani wore a look of exasperated horror at Errani's ability to not only run down every ball but also to pop big winners especially on her forehand side. Errani credits her new longer racquet with helping her become a more offensive player, but her natural ability to play on all parts of the court is a big reason why she's done so well this season including winning three clay court titles.

But someone who won't be shocked at all by the new Errani is her opponent tomorrow in the semifinals. Sam Stosur owns a 5-0 lifetime record against the Italian including winning their last meeting in Rome a few weeks ago in a testy battle that saw Stosur climb back after being down in the second set to win in straights. The fact that Stosur will know what to expect and that she's in her third Roland Garros semifinal suggest that the advantage is with her, especially if you factor in Stosur is a whopping 47-0 in Grand Slam matches when she wins the first set and 8-2 this year in three set matches. In other words, a three-set grind won't exactly be in Errani's favor tomorrow.

Stosur wasn't expected to get this far in Paris, but then again she wasn't either when she took home the title in New York last year. After Stosur won her last match against Dominika Cibulkova, she joked in her presser that the Italian journalists were reminding her of bad things by bringing up her loss to Francesca Schiavone from a few years ago. Stosur hasn't forgotten that match but she's moved on and she wants more than a semifinal finish at a tournament many still think she can win. Sometimes bad memories can actually turn out to be the best motivation of all.

No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova vs. No. 4 seed Petra Kvitova

Remember at the start of the year when many picked Petra Kvitova to become No. 1 in the world? She had a chance to do just that if she could have beaten Sharapova in their semifinal showdown in Melbourne. Since that nervy loss, Kvitova has had an ok season but has yet to reach a final. Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova who struggled against Victoria Azarenka on the hardcourts before winning two clay court titles, is now just a win away from reclaiming the No. 1 ranking.

Sharapova has been the pick of many to win Paris so why does this match feel like it's on Kvitova's racquet? Kvitova can certainly outhit the Russian but as we saw today in her three set win in the quarters, Kvitova can get hot on the winners count and be almost untouchable and then go into a freefall hitting unforced error after error. Some thought Kvitova could lose early, but she's still in Paris with a chance to win it all. And wouldn't a title here take the pressure off of her defending her Wimbledon title in a few weeks time?

But the real intangible in this match could well be that Wimbledon final from last year that Sharapova lost and thus created the new star in the shy girl from Fulnek with the big yell. Being No. 1 for Sharapova would be a huge achievement, but what she really wants is to complete the career Grand Slam on a surface and at an event that many thought was simply out of her reach.

Simply put, Sharapova isn't going to let a chance at history slip from her fingers.

For a complete order of play, go here.