LONDON, 29 June 2005 — The decibel level went up a notch at Wimbledon yesterday as defending champion Maria Sharapova moved ominously into the semifinals.
After four rounds of gentle sparring, the 18-year-old Russian was given a real battle early on by compatriot Nadia Petrova on Court One before emerging victorious 7-6, 6-3.
“It was a tough match ... it sends shivers down my body to be in the semifinals again,” she said, after securing a last four showdown with a revitalized Venus Williams who held off a stirring Mary Pierce comeback to win 6-0, 7-6.
While Sharapova’s thunderbolts were accompanied by a cacophony of ear-splitting yelps, it was the low rumbling of world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport’s seismic forehand that echoed round Court One later.
The top seed carried on where she left off against Kim Clijsters in the fourth round to out-gun Russian fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6, 6-3.
Davenport, who won the first of her three grand slam titles at Wimbledon in 1999, will face Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo in the semifinals after the graceful third seed glided past battle-weary Russian Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 6-4.
Of the four Russians that reached the quarterfinals, only the Florida-groomed Sharapova is still in the hunt.
“She has a big game, she is a great fighter, we’ll just have to go out and battle,” said Sharapova of twice former champion Venus who has never lost a semifinal at Wimbledon.
Sharapova has become a worldwide brand since her stunning triumph against Serena Williams in last year’s final — she has just launched her own perfume and strides the grass in gold-encrusted tennis shoes.
When she walks out on court, however, the multi-million dollar smile is replaced by the scowl of a streetfighter.
The athletic Petrova, who saved two match points on Monday against Czech Kveta Peschke, was not about to slink away into the shadows against the queen of grasscourts.
Five years older than Sharapova she matched her opponent blow for blow in the first 12 games to force a tiebreak.
The bristling Sharapova thrives on pressure, however, and displaying the sheer bloody-mindedness that is as much a weapon as her sizzling groundstrokes, she moved into a 6-4 lead.
Petrova saved both set points but Sharapova made no mistake at 7-6, hammering an unstoppable forehand past the eighth seed.
She hurtled into a 3-0 lead in the second set and even when Petrova threatened to break back at 3-5, Sharapova was blessed with two lucky net cords as she closed out the match.
“It’s different this year because last year I wasn’t expected to be in the semifinals, this year I’m expecting myself to be in the second week.”
Venus, relegated to 14th seed this year, looked like the player who won consecutive Wimbledon titles in 2000 and 2001 as she pulverized Pierce in the first set.
The 30-year-old Pierce came to her senses in the second set and even had five set points in a dramatic tiebreak before Venus edged it 12-10 on her second match point.
Davenport, 29, appeared on the verge of retiring this time last year when she lost in the last four to Sharapova. Fit, lean and mean, she now looks the biggest threat to the Russian.
Kuznetsova, who beat Davenport in the semifinals of the US Open last year, has the game to write her name on the Wimbledon roll of honor, but never really threatened after losing the first set tiebreak.
“There’s no question that physically I’m a better athlete and I believe a smarter player than I was in the late Nineties,” said the Californian, who is certain to keep her top ranking whatever happens between now and Sunday.
Davenport holds an 8-3 career lead over Mauresmo, although the Frenchwoman’s form here is raising a few eyebrows.
The 25-year-old was at her balletic best against Myskina as she glided into the semifinals for the third time in her past three visits.
“Maybe I’ll make it one step further this year,” said Mauresmo, who is yet to win a grand slam title.
“I really wanted to be aggressive in this match and that’s what I did from the first point.”
Myskina was run ragged by the free-flowing Mauresmo, who is yet to drop a set.
