Giant killer on the run!
Sabine Lisicki swept into the Wimbledon semifinals on Tuesday as the German followed her sensational upset of Serena Williams with an emphatic 6-3, 6-3 victory over Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi.
The 23-year-old has never made it past the fourth round at any other Grand Slam, but she comes alive on Wimbledon’s grass courts, where her 18-4 record and four last-eight appearances is a stark contrast to a 16-15 mark at the other majors. Her previous best run at the All England Club ended in a semifinal defeat to Maria Sharapova in 2011.
‘I’m very happy. It was an amazing match yesterday so I had to make sure I calmed down quickly for today,’ Lisicki said. ‘The experience I had in the other quarter-finals at Wimbledon helped me a lot. ‘I had great challenges here this year and that made me even more ready for this match. ‘There’s no pressure. It’s a game I love so much and I want to keep it that way.’
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska downed China’s Li Na on Tuesday to set-up a Wimbledon semifinal against Sabine Lisicki, the slayer of Serena Williams. Fourth-seeded Radwanska, the highest seed left following the exit of defending champion Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, beat Li, the sixth seed, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-2 in a gripping two-hour, 43 minute contest which was completed under the Centre Court roof.
Radwanska, the runner-up in 2012, took victory on an eighth match point. The 24-year-old Pole, who had gone into the quarterfinal with a 4-6 losing record against Li, also overcame an injury scare when she needed her right thigh tightly-strapped at the start of the deciding set.
‘Li played unbelievable tennis. I was just happy to get through after struggling in the final set,’ said Radwanska who had also needed three sets to beat Tsvetana Pironkova in the fourth round. ‘I have played so much tennis in the last few days, that’s why I have the problem.’ Radwanksa and Lisicki have played twice on the WTA Tour, winning a match apiece. ‘We have known each other since our junior days, it’ll be a great challenge on grass,’ said the slender Pole.
