Angelique Kerber in semifinal – Sabine Lisicki fails to progress
Singles
Quarterfinals: [3] Angelique Kerber (GER) d Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 63 76 (2) Quarterfinals: Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d Sabine Lisicki (GER) 64 62 Quarterfinals: [1] Maria Sharapova (RUS) d Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 75 46 64
[2] Na Li (CHN) d [5] Petra Kvitova (CZE) | 6 - 3 | 7 - 5 |
doubles - Quarterfinals
B Mattek-Sands / S Mirza (USA/IND) d L Huber / J Husarova (USA/SVK)
| 7 - 5 | 6 - 4 |
M Barthel / S Lisicki (GER/GER) d J Jankovic / M Lucic-Baroni (SRB/CRO)
| 6 - 1 | 2 - 6 | 10 - 4 |
Angelique Kerber of Porsche Team Germany and superstar Maria Sharapova from Russia will contest the first semifinal at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Saturday. The second encounter in the round of the last four at the world class tournament in Stuttgart will see the Chinese Na Li face the American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Blowing kisses to the thrilled audience and a big smile on her face – Angelique Kerber was obviously savouring the moment. The 25-year-old had just won her quarterfinal against the Kazakh Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 7-6 (2) to secure herself a berth in the last four. ““I tried to make her move around and enjoy myself on court,” said the No. 3 seed when explaining her tactics against the world No. 37. A tactic that worked: Angelique Kerber was able to dictate play over most of the match and clinched a place in the semifinals of the world class Stuttgart tournament for the first time.
Maria Sharapova is the defending Porsche Tennis Grand Prix champion. The world No. 2 and new Porsche brand ambassador progressed to the last four with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win over Serb Ana Ivanovic. It will be her fifth semifinal already this season. Like the day before against the Czech Lucie Safarova, the new Porsche brand ambassador had to call upon all her class and fighting spirit during the 136-minute encounter to walk off the court as the winner. “I prefer to play hard matches than train at home,” she said. Up once again against a left-hander in Angelique Kerber, she commented: “Lucia Safarova is also a lefty so I’m well-prepared.” Angelique Kerber and Maria Sharapova have met four times previously. The Russian has won three times and the German once – at the Paris indoor tournament last year.
Out of the tournament on the other hand is Sabine Lisicki. The 23-year-old Porsche Team Germany player lost to the American Bethanie Mattek-Sands who again caused an upset. The 28-year-old world No. 104 from Phoenix/Arizona defeated the German in 93 minutes 6-4, 6-2. It was her sixth singles match in Stuttgart. The American has a preference for shrill outfits and a pendant for hunting and fast cars. In July 2011 she was placed a career high No. 30 in the world rankings but then slumped right down the list. She is now on the climb again. How far she will go is something the semifinal against Na Li will show. The No. 2 seed from China has reached the semifinals of the Porsche Grand Prix at her sixth attempt after defeating Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic), the 2011 Wimbledon champion and last year’s semifinalst in Stuttgart, 6-3, 7-5.
In the doubles, Sabine Lisicki this time ended up a winner: together with Mona Barthel she won 6-1, 2-6, 10-4 against Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (Croatia). It means the Porsche Team Germany players have advanced to the semifinals where they will play Darija Jurak (Croatia) and Katalin Marosi (Hungary). In the second doubles semifinal Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) and Sania Mirza (India) will face Andrea Petkovic and Angelique Kerber of Porsche Team Germany.
