By Ros Satar
(June 4, 2013) PARIS – 2012 finalist Sara Errani was the first of the women to book her slot in the semi-finals, with a tight straight sets 6-4, 7-6(6)win over fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Errani started on the offensive early, breaking Radwanska in the third game, only to lose the advantage.
Errani got the better of the Pole, who had never made it past this round at the French Open, to lead with another break at 4-3, taking the first set in 44 minutes.
Radwanska got off to the quicker start in the second set with an immediate break and in this set the momentum see-sawed between the two of them.
Radwanska fought to get things back on even terms forcing a tie-break, saving one match point.
But it was just a brief respite when, at 6-7, a backhand swinging wide handed Errani her second successive semifinal slot.
Radwanska remained positive about her performance, in tricky breezy conditions.
Radwanska said: “She was playing very solid tennis today and didn’t miss much.
“Of course, I could do it in the second set, but, well, it just, you know, two points I was worse and, you know, and that was the match.”
Both women found the conditions tricky, with strong winds to the left side of the umpire’s chair.
Errani said: “in the first set I won one time, one game against the wind, and that was the key of the first set.
“[I] was lucky to close the second set, but could be also for her the second set. [It} was a very near match.”