Wozniacki & Bartoli Semifinal Clash Set
Published Feburary 24, 2011 12:00
DOHA, Qatar - World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki will get a shot at revenge at the Qatar Ladies Open, as she and Marion Bartoli set up a semifinal clash.
Watch live matches from Doha all week on TennisTV.com!
Wozniacki, the No.1 seed, had been pushed to three sets in three of her four previous meetings against Flavia Pennetta, and this time things looked tough again as the Italian won the first two games of their quarterfinal match. But it wasn't to be in Doha, as Wozniacki won 12 straight games to prevail, 62 60.
Earlier, Wozniacki was given a Liverpool soccer jersey by the Qatar Tennis Federation, which she wore in the warm-up. It was of Steven Gerrard. "I've been to a Liverpool match before and I met some of the players. I was really happy Nasser from the Qatar Tennis Federation was able to get me a signed shirt."
Bartoli defeated Peng Shuai in the first quarterfinal of the day, 62 62.
"I thought I played well. It could have been 6-1 in the second set instead of 6-2, even 6-0," Bartoli said. "But it was a great performance overall. Yesterday I played slightly better, but today I was still playing very strong."
After No.8 seed Shahar Peer lost to Bartoli in the second round, 61 60, she praised the Frenchwoman, saying she was playing like a No.1 player.
"Shahar is my best friend, so I'm definitely not going to tell you she is crazy," Bartoli said of Peer's comments. "It's very nice of her to say that, but yes, if I played like yesterday all the time, I would probably be Top 3 at least.
"Tennis is a fickle sport. I'm glad I've been able to play two matches in a row very well. I'm going to try to keep it up this way for the semifinal."
"I'm sure she played a great match against Shahar," Wozniacki said. "I didn't see the match so it's difficult for me to say, but to be the No.1 player in the world you need to play like that every match. That's why there's only one."
Wozniacki leads Bartoli in their head-to-head series, 3-2, although Bartoli has won their last two in straight sets, most recently at Cincinnati last summer.
