Last year’s runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the semifinals of the China Open, while Elena Dementieva fell at the same tennis complex where she won her Olympic gold medal 14 months ago.
The sixth-seeded Kuznetsova defeated fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets, 6-3 6-3, and will next face No.13 seed Nadia Petrova, who followed up her victory over soon-to-be No.1 Serena Williams with a quarterfinal win over Peng Shuai.
The Russian fourth-seeded Dementieva was upset by 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5 6-3. The Pole will play 14th seed Marion Bartoli in the semis, who advanced by upsetting seventh seed Vera Zvonareva.
The 2009 China Open champion will collect $775,500.
I think Kuznetsova, plus the other 3 in the semis demonstrates the volatility at the top of the women’s game. Of the other 3 Mandatory premiums (1000 pts), Zvonareva(Indian Wells), Azarenka(Miami), Safina(Madrid) and now the final one in Beijing-another new person will win. Of the 5 premiums (800 points) V.Williams won Dubai, Safina won Rome, Jankovic won Cincinnati, Dementieva won Toronto and Sharapova won Tokyo. There are no repeats except Safina (during her spurt). Interesting.
Good observation. It’s boring when one player is so dominant that you always know who the winner will be, but the present volatility of women’s tennis is too much.