Djokovic battles past Ferrer
ROME: Sara Errani took advantage of a supportive crowd to beat second-seeded Li Na 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 Friday and reach the Italian Open semifinals for the second consecutive year.
Novak Djokovic meanwhile, also required three sets to get past David Ferrer in their quarterfinal contest, winning 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
The second-seeded Serb, who won the tournament in 2008 and 2001, had to go the distance in his third round match against Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber late on Thursday, winning that one 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The 10th-seeded Errani is attempting to become the first Italian woman to win the tournament since Raffaella Reggi took the title 29 years ago in Taranto.
Li was unusually inconsistent, committing 52 unforced errors to Errani’s 21, and appeared rattled by a close call from the chair umpire early in the third set.
Errani celebrated by waving her arms to incite the crowd. Her semifinal opponent will be 2007 and 2008 Rome champion and current sixth seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, who outperformed Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, seeded third, 6-4, 6-4.
It turned out to be a double victory for Errani on Friday as she also won her doubles match with partner Roberta Vinci; the second seeds beat the fifth-seeded pair of Sania Mirza and Cara Black 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinal round.
With Sania’s defeat, India’s challenge on the clay of Rome has come to a disappointing end.
In men’s play on an overcast day at the Foro Italico, eighth-seeded Milos Raonic held off Jeremy Chardy of France 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 and will next play Djokovic.
Also reaching the last four was Grigor Dimitrov, who celebrated his 23rd birthday with a win when 36-year-old Tommy Haas retired after losing the first set 6-2 due to a right shoulder injury – spoiling a matchup between the youngest and oldest players in the top 20.
Dimitrov’s semifinal opponent will be either seven-time Rome champion Rafael Nadal or Wimbledon winner Andy Murray, who were scheduled to face off after going to press.
”It’s definitely one of the most memorable days of my life,” Dimitrov said upon reaching his first Masters series semifinal. ”I’m just a happy birthday boy today.”
Dimitrov was another successful player on the doubles circuit, progressing to the semis with partner Lukas Rosol after a 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory over Marin Cilic and Santiago Gonzalez.
In another men’s doubles contest, Robin Haase and Feliciano Lopez got past third seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo 6-3, 6-2 to reach the last-four stage.
Eleventh seed Ana Ivanovic also advanced to the last-four stage in the women’s singles by defeating Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Top women’s seed Serena Williams was scheduled to face China’s Shuai Zhang in the quarters late on Friday.
Williams had registered an easy 6-1, 6-2 victory over Varvara Lepchenko in the third round in the last match of Thursday.
The Italian Open is the last key warmup before the French Open starts in nine days. (Agencies)