Ana Ivanovic took down Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Internazionali d’Italia. The loss ended Sharapova’s 12-match winning streak on clay (victories in Stuttgart and Madrid).
Ivanovic looks poised to get back into the top 10 for the first time since 2009. Do you think she can find back the playing level of her amazing 2008 season, when she won Roland Garros and reached the number one ranking?
Photo credit: Marianne
Ana serving for the match (credit: Mauro):
First victory in 7 matches over the Australian for Li Na who breezed into the quarterfinals 6-3 6-1. Her next opponent: Sara Errani.
Photo credit: Marianne
Maria Sharapova def Simona Halep 1-6 6-2 6-3
Rafael Nadal def Kei Nishikori 2-6 6-4 3-0
Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci def Garbine Muguruza/Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4 6-3
Daniel Nestor/Nenad Zimonjic def Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4 6-2
Rafael Nadal
After two stunning quarterfinals losses in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, Nadal captured his fourth Madrid title, his 27th Masters title overall. Led 2-6 2-4 he was totally outplayed by Nishikori in the final.
Kei Nishikori
Following his win in Barcelona, Nishikori beat Milos Raonic and David Ferrer en route to the first Masters final of his career. And he was just a few games away from a huge upset: beat Nadal, on clay, in front of his home crowd. For a set and a half he was totally in control of the match but had to retire in the third set.
He becomes the first male Japanese player to each the top 10.
Dominic Thiem
The 20-year old Austrian stunned Australian Open and Monte Carlo champion Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round of the Madrid Open. Thiem is the first 20-and-under player to defeat a top-five player in three years. Unfotunately he had to retire due to illness before his third round match against Feliciano Lopez.
Maria Sharapova
She beat Simona Halep to capture her first Madrid title. She remains undefeated on clay this season (11-0) and looks like a serious contender for the Roland Garros title.
Simona Halep
Quarterfinalist at the Australian Open, winner of the Qatar Open, she reached her first Premier Mandatory final in Madrid.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams withdrew from the Madrid Open before her quarterfinal match against Petra Kvitova because of a left thigh injury. She is doubtful for the Rome tournament this week.
7-5 3-6 6-1 for the Australian who will play Maria Sharapova today for a place in the quarterfinals.
Photo credit: Davinia
Photo credit: Davinia
