Second seed Serena Williams ended her 18-match Grand Slam winning streak by falling to seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals of the 2009 French Open.
Russia’s Kuznetsova faced a set point serving at 5-6 in the first set, but she fought it off and eventually won the set. Despite being three points from defeat in the second set, Williams evened the match, and then took a 3-1 lead in the decider. Kuznetsova mounted the final comeback and broke serve in the last game to finally beat Williams 7-6(3) 5-7 7-5.
Williams was looking for her third successive Grand Slam title and the 11th of her career.
The 2004 US Open champion Kuznetsova, who has been my second favorite for the title, just after top seed Dinara Safina, will play Samantha Stosur in the semifinals. The 25-year-old Stosur has never won a Tour title, and will be playing in her first major semifinal. In the quarterfinals the Australian beat young Romanian phenomenon Sorana Cirstea 6-1 6-3.
The other semifinal will include Russian Dinara Safina and Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova. (source: AP, photo: Ralf Reinecke)
Thank God!
It is going to be an all Russian final, and Dinara taking the title.
I agree Carlos. I must admit that I am surprised that Serena was beaten today.
Sorry to all Dinara Lovers, but I DON’T WANT HER TO WIN!!! Nothing against her, but it seems awfully like Ana Ivanovic…
Yeah I think Safina will take it as well.
Admittedly I’m not her biggest fan, but she is definitely a winner, and worthy of the number one spot…
Bróna, unlike you, I’m not surprised Serena lost, I had expected Kuznetsova to do better than Serena.
Well Marija, I was surprised considering that Serena’s record against Kuznetsova is so good and considering that Serena usually plays so well on the big occasions. However it wasn’t a huge shock to me because Kuznetsova had been playing better than Serena in the lead-up to the match. Anyway, Safina and Kuznetsova in the final should be very interesting, but I think it will go Dinara’s way.
“Kuznetsova had been playing better than Serena in the lead-up to the match” – that’s what I was having in mind. And I could add, in the lead-up to the tournament.
When I said that “Kuznetsova had been playing better than Serena in the lead-up to the match” I meant to say that she had been playing better than Serena in the lead-up to the tournament, so I agree with you there Marija.
Ivanovic did the same thing…. She lost in the FO final in 07, lost in AO final in 08 won FO then lost everything
I hope this doesn’t happen to Dinara… :'(
It won’t. But first things first, wait for Dinara to win tomorrow.
wow!!! Marija, I saw Stosur’s message to you on her twitter! She says some players read your blog! This is amazing!
Juan, yes, it’s awesome and exciting. 🙂