Sharapova sets up Kuznetsova clash
BEIJING, China -- Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova set up an intriguing semi-final showdown with fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova at the China Open after her opponent Jelena Jankovic retired hurt on Friday with an ankle injury.
Serena Williams also progressed to the last four when her opponent, Russian Nadia Petrova, quit with a sprained ankle. The American top seed will now face fourth seed Vera Zvonareva for a place in the final.
U.S. Open champion Kuznetsova beat Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-4 6-2 in the only match to go the distance on Friday.
Looking forward to her contest with Sharapova, second seed Kuznetsova said: "It's going to be a difficult match. Maria is playing well and so am I. It will depend on what game she plays and what I do."
Third seed Sharapova was cruising 5-2 in the first set when Serbian Jankovic took a medical time out before deciding she was unable to continue.
Jankovic, seeded seventh, said she had badly twisted her right ankle during her win over Japan's Shinobu Asagoe earlier in the tournament.
"I'm really disappointed... I was hurting and couldn't play balls left and right, I couldn't really move," the former junior world number one told reporters. "Maria did what she had to do, she moved me around."
Sharapova was blisteringly accurate from the baseline, pinpointing strong shots that Jankovic could not chase down.
"I was happy to play a very good set. Though she was injured, we did have some good points," Sharapova said.
"I liked the way I was playing and today too... I'm still enjoying myself, that's the most important thing."
Williams was also in charge of her match and was 6-2 4-1 up when fifth seed Petrova called it quits.
Petrova said she hurt her left ankle reaching for a shot in the third game of the first set. "Serena was serving very well. The rest of the match was hard for me to focus," she said.
Six-times grand slam champion Williams was in ominous form as she broke Petrova four times by firing blistering serves and punishing groundstrokes.
"I think I played solid today but definitely I can play better," said the American, who had to dig deep to beat Dinara Safina in three sets in the previous round.
Kuznetsova produced a performance full of baseline power, strong serving and soft touch as she posted her 13th consecutive victory in just over one hour.
Down three break points at 4-4 in the first set, Kuznetsova slammed three superb winners to get herself out of trouble. The 19-year-old world number five then broke Dulko's serve to take the set.
Dulko wilted in the second set under Kuznetsova's relentless pace and meekly ended the match with a double fault.
"I'm in good shape. I've been tired here but I think I can handle it," said Kuznetsova, who followed up her first grand slam title with victory in Bali last week.
