In a packed Saturday schedule featuring most of the eight third-round matches and all the four quarterfinals, we got our Rogers Cup semifinal pairs: Petra Kvitova [5] vs. Caroline Wozniacki [7] and Lucie Safarova [16] vs. Li Na [10].
Petra Kvitova was one of the lucky ones who completed her third round on time, on Friday, earning her first Top 10 win of the season by beating Marion Bartoli 6-1 6-1. On Saturday she advanced to the semis with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Tamira Paszek.
Lucie Safarova was the other lucky player who didn’t have to play two matches in on day. After eliminating Sam Stosur on Friday 7-6(9) 7-6(5), the tricky Czech went further on Saturday with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Roberta Vinci, who had upset sixth seed Angelique Kerber earlier in the day.
After a two-hour and 30-minute three-setter against Varvara Lepchenko in the third round, Caroline Wozniacki took out Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4 6-4, the first Canadian woman in 20 years to reach the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup. Wozniak was a wildcard at the tournament and she defeated big names such as Daniela Hantuchova and Jelena Jankovic early on.
Li Na ended Agnieszka Radwanska’s hopes of claiming the top ranking by crushing her 6-2 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Radwanska had to go all the way to the title in order to become No.1, but one precodition had already been met – Victoria Azarenka’s retirement with a knee injury before the quarterfinal stage. (photo: Moo’s Tennis Blog)
