Just before world No.1 Victoria Azarenka could find no answer to Dominika Cibulkova’s pressure and left the Roland Garros tournament, the 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was also outplayed and said goodbye on the Court Philippe Chatrier after falling to Sara Errani 6-0 7-5.
As you know, Errani is no stranger to clay. This season she’s won three successive titles on the red surface (Acapulco, Barcelona and Budapest) and is now in the best form ever. After suffering a ruthless bagel in the first set, seed No.26 Kuznetsova raised hopes of a battle when she broke Errani’s serve and held her own to lead 5-3 in the second set, but then simply lost her way and the steady Errani won all the remaining games.
Seed No.21 Errani has now recorded back-to-back victories over two former Roland Garros champions, as in the third round she ousted the 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic. Li Na is now the only former champion left in the draw.
In her first French Open quarterfinal, Errani will face tenth seed Angelique Kerber, who beat Petra Martic 6-3 7-5. Errani is 0-28 lifetime against Top 10 players and Kerber won their last and only meeting easily, this year at Hobart 6-1 6-2. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
