Getting to the last stages of the Roland Garros and we had another casualty: Li Na.
Shvedova – Li Na 3-6 6-2 6-0
Big surprise here. Shvedova is well known for her titles in the doubles (she won in 2010 Wimbledon and the US Open with King), but she has never achieved anything significant in the singles where she is currently ranked as world no.142. So she was the big underdog here and she surprised everybody by thrashing the former champion in the last 2 sets of the match conceding her only 2 games!
“I had the injury and surgery right after Australia. I was recovering a very long time and when I came back my knee was bothering me for half a year,” said Shvedova “Then my coach left, and I had some tough periods mentally. I was very down and lonely. I was playing doubles but lost all my singles points. Since September I got a new coach and he helped me out a lot. For this year we set a goal to get my ranking back, and I was working hard.”
An upset Li Na commented ‘I have to find the reason why I lose the match. I will find out. But not today.”
Sharapova – Zakolapova 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-2
Finally Maria lost a set to win her match at the decider. When they questioned her about that second set she answered, ‘That was my first fall of the clay season, which is the biggest shocker. I usually have a few before the French Open.”
“I think I’m just much more grateful today for what I’m doing and what I have, more than anything,” said Sharapova. So now when I’m playing, I really feel like I’m much more positive. Overall, I see my career much more positive than I looked at it back then, especially during the tough days. In the past I would always have to save myself, because knowing that it’s seven matches. I never felt like I recovered that well. But I think with experience and just being physically stronger, I’m much better at that.”
Other Matches
Kanepi – Rus 6-1 4-6 6-0
Kvitova – Lepchenko 6-2 6-1
