World No.18 Maria Sharapova has reached her fourth semifinal in her nine appearances at the Indian Wells tournament. The victory in the quarters didn’t come easy, though. The 16th-seeded Russian swept through the first set and made a 2-0 lead in the second, but then her level dropped, she double-faulted seven times and Peng Shuai leveled the match. Sharapova managed to recover and won 6-2 5-7 6-3 after two hours and 22 minutes.
The 2006 Indian Wells champion Sharapova will play last year’s runner-up, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, in the final four. Wozniacki entered the semifinals in a considerably easier way, having played just three games against good friend Victoria Azarenka.
The other semifinal of the $4.5 million BNP Paribas Open will feature Yanina Wickmayer and Marion Bartoli. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
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