Day 3 Wrap-Up in Istanbul
Day 3 Wrap-Up in Istanbul
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Belarussian Victoria Azarenka – who has already scored wins this week over the reigning French and U.S. Open champions – have secured two of the final four semifinal sports at the season-ending WTA Championships on Thursday being played in Istanbul.
For the second straight match, world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki gave it all she had but came up short in a losing performance against Kvitova, falling 6-4, 6-2.
“I have been feeling tired, and to get a little bit sick now, that’s not the best if you want to beat the top players,” said Wozniacki, who called for the trained and had her blood pressure checked mid-match. “Today, Petra played well. And of course I wish I could have been 110 percent, but my body just didn’t want the things that I wanted today.”
In the only White Group match played, Azarenka handled Li Na 6-2, 6-2 to earn her way into the semis still with one match to play.
“I think she’s a very, very tough opponent,” Azarenka said about Li. “Especially if you give her one rhythm, she’s really solid and she can stay and outpower anybody. So I had to adjust, because the last two meetings that we had she really took advantage of me playing the same way … I had to change something and be more creative today.”
After beating Maria Sharapova in the opening match, Li (1-1 record) will play Stosur on Friday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. Azarenka is set to play Marion Bartoli, who replaced Sharapova, in a match that is essentially meaningless.
“I’m just going to try to use that match to work more on my game and improve little things that I could have done better today,” Azarenka said. “So I’m just going to use it as an advantage for me and try my best. I always do. When I’m on the court I’m 100 percent.”
Added Azarenka, who said she loved playing in front of the enthusiastic Istanbul crowds: “The crowd here in Istanbul just makes me want to play well and show them some good tennis. They’re a fantastic crowd and make me want to play really well.”
In the day’s late match, Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska beat sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Zvonareva had her chances – three match points in fact – for a spot in the semifinals, but couldn’t hold off Radwanska.
Thursday’s scores:
Round Robin – Red Group
(3) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) def. (1) Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 6-4, 6-2
(8) Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) def. (6) Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 1-6, 6-2, 7-5
Round Robin – White Group
(4) Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) def. (5) Li Na (China) 6-2, 6-2
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