Lisicki dismantles Kanepi to justify favourite tag
By Ed Osmond
LONDON | Tue Jul 2, 2013 8:39pm IST
(Reuters) - Sabine Lisicki lived up to her status as the new Wimbledon favourite with a clinical 6-3 6-3 demolition of Kaia Kanepi in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.LONDON | Tue Jul 2, 2013 8:39pm IST
The conquerors of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Maria Sharapova all failed to back up their shock wins but Lisicki followed her stunning victory over defending champion Serena Williams with another impressive display.
The smiling German broke Estonian Kanepi's serve in the opening game of the match and produced a barrage of fizzing groundstrokes and subtle drop shots to reach her second Wimbledon semi-final in just 65 minutes.
"There was for me no pressure at all after yesterday's win," Lisicki told a news conference.
"I needed to make the switch quickly and focus on today's match and that's what I did. I think I did a good job today."
Lisicki made a fast start under grey skies on Court One and she broke the world number 46 in the opening game.
Bustling energetically around the court and whipping forehands crosscourt and down the line, Lisicki also tormented the ponderous Kanepi with delicate drop shots which the lanky Estonian struggled to retrieve.
Kanepi, who knocked out Briton Laura Robson in the fourth round, took advantage of three Lisicki double faults to break serve for a 2-1 lead in the second set but she looked uncomfortable whenever she was forced to leave the baseline.
Lisicki, the 23rd seed, reeled off four games in a row to stand on the brink of the last four and although Kanepi held serve to stop the rot, the German dispatched a high forehand volley on her third match point to seal victory.
Lisicki, who lost to Sharapova in the semi-finals at the All England Club two years ago, will play fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska or sixth seed Li Na in the semi-finals.
"I know how it is to be in the semi-final here," she said. "I am glad I had that experience before and I feel much fresher and fitter than two years ago. I am hitting the ball well and moving well."
Sergiy Stakhovsky and Michelle Larcher de Brito lost immediately after their stunning second-round wins over Federer and Sharapova, while Steve Darcis pulled out of the tournament due to injury after knocking out Nadal in the first round.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
High on booze, Sri Lankan cricketer tried to open plane door in mid-air
British Airways hostess serving drinks
RELATEDS
- Sri Lankan Airline flight has narrow escape as two tyres burst on landing at Delhi's IGi airport
- Get the first-hand access into the life of Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandez
- Champions Trophy: Kohli, Karthik help India beat Lankans in warm-up tie
- Jayalalithaa writes to PM, refuses to host Sri Lankan players in Tamil Nadu during IPL matches
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has ordered
an inquiry into reports that an unnamed member of the country`s A team
player misbehaved on a British Airways flight while being drunk.
"...Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that it is disappointed to hear of such an incident and SLC will discuss with the Manager of Sri Lanka 'A' Team. An inquiry will be conducted based on the Manager`s report and disciplinary action will be taken on the player concerned if found guilty," a SLC statement said.
Media reports said a drunken Sri Lankan cricketer caused panic on a packed British Airways flight when he tried to open the cabin door at 35,000ft.
The Sri Lanka A team was on a tour of the West Indies playing two four-day 'Tests' and 50-over and Twenty20 internationals.
"...Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that it is disappointed to hear of such an incident and SLC will discuss with the Manager of Sri Lanka 'A' Team. An inquiry will be conducted based on the Manager`s report and disciplinary action will be taken on the player concerned if found guilty," a SLC statement said.
Media reports said a drunken Sri Lankan cricketer caused panic on a packed British Airways flight when he tried to open the cabin door at 35,000ft.
The Sri Lanka A team was on a tour of the West Indies playing two four-day 'Tests' and 50-over and Twenty20 internationals.
MS Dhoni ruled out of tri-nation ODI series after hamstring injury
Indian skipper MS Dhoni during the 2nd ODI
In what appears to be a major blow for Team India, skipper Mahendra
Singh Dhoni has been ruled out of the ongoing tri-nation ODI series in West Indies following a hamstring injury on Sunday.
BCCI confirmed the news on its official Twitter handle: "Team India skipper @msdhoni has been ruled out of the ongoing tri-series in the West Indies, due to a hamstring injury."
The Indian skipper strained his muscle while batting in the 2nd ODI against West Indies on Sunday. Dhoni also failed to take the ground in the second innings as teammate Dinesh Karthik took over the wicket keeping duties in the match.
BCCI also confirmed Virat Kohli as the skipper for the remaining series while Mumbai Indians' batsman Ambati Rayudu has been added as the replacement for Dhoni in the squad.
"@imVkohli will lead India in the remainder of the tri-series. Ambati Rayudu has been named as @msdhoni replacement," BCCI's twitter handle said.
After losing the first ODI against West Indies by one-wicket on Sunday, Team India will now face Sri Lanka in the third ODI scheduled on Tuesday.
BCCI confirmed the news on its official Twitter handle: "Team India skipper @msdhoni has been ruled out of the ongoing tri-series in the West Indies, due to a hamstring injury."
The Indian skipper strained his muscle while batting in the 2nd ODI against West Indies on Sunday. Dhoni also failed to take the ground in the second innings as teammate Dinesh Karthik took over the wicket keeping duties in the match.
BCCI also confirmed Virat Kohli as the skipper for the remaining series while Mumbai Indians' batsman Ambati Rayudu has been added as the replacement for Dhoni in the squad.
"@imVkohli will lead India in the remainder of the tri-series. Ambati Rayudu has been named as @msdhoni replacement," BCCI's twitter handle said.
After losing the first ODI against West Indies by one-wicket on Sunday, Team India will now face Sri Lanka in the third ODI scheduled on Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment