MOSCOW, 14 October 2006 — World No. 1 and top seed Amelie Mauresmo was sent crashing out of the $2.34-million Kremlin Cup yesterday as the tournament also lost Russian golden girl Maria Sharapova through injury.
Czech Nicole Vaidisova, the eighth seed, battled from a set down to beat Mauresmo, the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7 3).
“It was a good match from both of us,” said 17-year-old Vaidisova.
“I definitely started very badly and was a game away from losing in the middle of the match. “I had to start playing better or lose. I just played better at the end and I’m happy about that.” Second seed Sharapova also exited the tournament when she was forced to pull out because of a right hip injury.
The 19-year-old Sharapova, currently third in the WTA rankings, who enjoyed a first round bye in Moscow, said she felt pain in her right hip after Wednesday’s second round match with a compatriot Ekaterina Bychkova, which Sharapova won 6-4, 7-5.
“I felt pain in my right hip after my first match here,” this year’s US Open champion said. “I couldn’t practice or even walk yesterday.” “I have to pull out. I’m really dissappointed but I have no choice.” Russia’s Anna Chakvetadze earned a place in the semifinals as a result.
Mauresmo had been on course for a semi-final spot in her clash with Vaidisova after taking the first set. The 27-year-old Frenchwoman produced three breaks in the opening set to take the opener in 21 minutes. In the second set the Czech teeager, ranked 11th in the world, earned a 2-0 lead but Mauresmo moved up a gear to take five consecutive games.
However, Vaidisova refused to surrender, also winning five games in a row and the set in 52 minutes to stay in the match.
In the decider, Vaidisova jumped to a 3-1 lead with an early break but the world’s number one broke back to level at four games all.
Vaidisova survived a match point in the 12th game, forcing a tiebreak, which she won 7 3.
She will now face fifth seed Nadia Petrova of Russia, who ousted compatriot Vera Zvonareva 7-5, 6-1.
In the men’s section of the event, top seed Nicolay Davydenko of Russia gained a place in the semis with a straight-sets 6-3, 7-5 win over Belarus big server Max Mirnyi.
In the last four, Davydenko will face seventh seed Fabrice Santoro of France, who battled through a tight quarter-final with Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-5.
King Upsets Kostanic
in Bangkok
In Bangkok. American teenager Vania King thrashed eighth seed Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 6-1, 6-1 at the Bangkok Open yesterday to reach her second career semifinal.
The 17-year-old, who has conceded only 10 games in the tournament, made short work of her doubles partner Kostanic.
King next faces countrywoman Meghann Shaughnessy after the sixth seed put out Aiko Nakamura of Japan 6-2, 6-4.
France’s Severine Bremond saved two match points in the second set as she defeated fifth-seeded Greek Eleni Daniilidou 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.
Bremond next plays Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn, who ousted Austrian Sybille Bammer 6-0, 6-2. King, who turned professional in July and reached the second round at Wimbledon and the US Open, said she expected a tougher contest against Kostanic.
Blake Ousts Rochus to Reach
Stockholm Open Semis
In Stockholm, Defending champion James Blake survived his first serious test at the Stockholm Open yesterday, beating Belgian sixth seed Olivier Rochus 6-7 6-4 6-2 to reach the semifinals.
The American world No. 8, who beat Rochus in the semis here last year, concluded with an ace and will meet the winner of the match between Czech third seed Tomas Berdych and Swedish hope Robin Soderling in the last four.
“He was tough last year and I knew it was going to be tough today,” said Blake, who fired 16 aces past the Belgian.
Earlier, Finn Jarkko Nieminen, the fifth seed, defeated Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-3 7-5. Nieminen, the highest ranked Nordic player, took advantage of some Lopez nerves at 5-5 in the second set and broke serve after a double fault by the Spaniard had given him a break point.
Nalbandian Exits Vienna Open
In Vienna, David Nalbandian was upset 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 by fifth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinals of the Vienna Open yesterday.
The second-seeded Argentine lacked the serving power of Chile’s Gonzalez, who took advantage of his error-prone opponent in the third set. The two South Americans looked at home on the slow indoor court, slicing their backhands from the baseline for much of the match. After the players exchanged breaks in the opening two games, Nalbandian broke to lead 4-2 when Gonzalez made a backhand error.
