Another Radwanska makes a Semi

Urszula Radwanska, younger sister of the no. 7 ranked Agnieszka Radwanska, defeated Pironkova, the last seed in the draw, to make the semifinals in Istanbul. It was a quick start for Radwanska taking the first set 6-2. Pironkova came back to take the second set 6-3. The third set was topsy turvy with Pironkova leading 5-1, but Radwanska came back and leveled it sending the match to a third set tiebreak. Radwanska raced to a quick lead in the tiebreak with the score at 5-1 on the change of ends. She then went up 6-1, but lost the next four points. After a long rally she won with the winning shot being a net chord winner. It took some luck, but she made it though. Radwanska will play Magdalena Rybarikova.

The other semifinal will be contested by Lesia Tsurenko and Kirsten Flipkens.

Wimbledon Wrap-Up, Part 3: Gentlemen’s Edition

The semifinals featured three of the top four players but the draw did not go exactly to plan. There were several upsets in week one including Rafa Nadal’s loss in the second round. That was not entirely a big upset as he had lost to Dustin Brown before, and grass is his worst surface.

All the top rising stars saw very little success this year at Wimbledon with last years semifinalists Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic going out in the first week as well. Nishikori was forced to pull out due to a calf injury, but it begs the question if he will ever be able to get to the top with all of his injuries. This was not a tournament for the young guns.

This was a tournament for the seasoned veterans with Djokovic, Murray, Federer, and Gasquet making the semifinals. Wawrinka, who won Roland Garros just a few weeks before was downed by Gasquet in five sets in the quarter finals. Overall, the Big Four (plus Wawrinka, minus Nadal) was the story of the Gentlemen’s draw this year at The Championships.

Laura Robson Wins First Match in Granby

Laura Robson won the first match of her comeback in Granby, QC. She won 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 against Naomi Osaka. She was down a break in the first but came back to win 7-5 in the tiebreak. She was then down a break again in the second set and was able to tie it up to take it to a tiebreak, but lost 7-5. She then traded breaks with Osaka in the third set until she went up a break and held to close it out 6-3 in the third. Robson plays Ellie Halbauer (USA) not before noon tomorrow.