By Barbara Galiza
(February 28, 2013) FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil –A nearly packed stadium welcomed Venus Williams, the tournament’s star, last night in Florianópolis. The top favourite had a slow start, going down 2/4 against the Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova, but picked up her rhythm and won ten games in a row to seal the match. With the win, the American makes the semifinals, where she will face Olga Puchkova, 109th in the rankings.
“First of all, I’d like to say my opponent played really well. I couldn’t control her in the first set”, said Venus post-victory.
“I tried to keep my focus. In reality, I didn’t even notice (I won ten games in a row). I just wanted to play my best, choose the right shots, be aggressive and control the points. I like the feeling of being in control of the point, so that’s what I tried to do.”
The first semifinal to be played Friday afternoon is between Monica Niculescu, of Romania, and the French Kristina Mladenovic, at 4pm local time. Venus will enter court right after.
Barbara Galiza is a journalist from Rio de Janeiro and is covering the WTA tennis tournament in Florianópolis, Brazil as media in for Tennis Panorama. She likes tennis and writing. Sometimes she blogs, most of the time she tweets. – @fiercetennis. Follow her updates on @TennisNewsTPN.
WTA BRASIL TENNIS CUP
Florianopolis, Brazil
February 24-March 2, 2013
$235,000/International
Hard/Outdoors
Results – Thursday, February 28, 2013
Singles – Quarterfinals
(1) Venus Williams (USA) d. (5) Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 64 60
(7) Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. Melinda Czink (HUN) 64 63
Monica Niculescu (ROU) d. Timea Babos (HUN) 63 62
Olga Puchkova (RUS) d. Jana Cepelova (SVK) 61 61
Doubles – Semifinals
(1) Medina Garrigues/Shvedova (ESP/KAZ) d. (3) Babos/Date-Krumm (HUN/JPN) 63 46 105 (Match TB)
Keothavong/Savinykh (GBR/RUS) d. Barrois/Malek (GER/GER) 64 16 106 (Match TB)
Order Of Play – Friday, March 1, 2013
Centre Court (from 16.00hrs)
1. Monica Niculescu vs. Kristina Mladenovic
2. Venus Williams vs. Olga Puchkova
3. Doubles Final: Medina Garrigues/Shvedova vs. Keothavong/Savinykh