World number one Serena Williams reached her first Roland Garros semifinal in ten years after surviving a tough three set quarterfinal match against 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. This was also a revenge of sorts for Williams, who was beaten by Kuznetsova in the same stage in 2009 where the latter went all the way to clinching the title.
Kuznetsova, ranked 39th prior to this tournament, gained momentum in the second set to even out the match and was even up 2-0 in the third before Williams stormed back to close out the match 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
“She started playing better and I didn’t get ready for that, so to say,” Williams said.
“Even though she was up 5-1 or 5-2 in the second, it easily could have been 2-all or 4-all or something, or 3-all I should say. I made some key errors. But I didn’t have time to dwell on that because it was in the moment and I couldn’t think negative. I had to stay positive and try to start making more shots at that point,” she added.
Williams went on to win the Roland Garros in 2003 but since then has failed to reach semifinals or better except this year where she is the overwhelming favorite to win the Roland Garros tournament for the second time.
“I was so determined to get through that match, and I really, really, really wanted it more than anyone, I think,” Williams said afterwards. “I was really just fighting, giving it everything I had out there.
“I’ve been able to come back a lot throughout my career. I don’t think anything really changed.”
Kuznetsova has great things to say about her top-ranked opponent.
“She’s an unbelievable competitor,” Kuznetsova said.
“She turns on her game when she needs it. She serves well and she’s got the game, of course – and that’s why she is where she is,” she added.
Williams will next face Sara Errani of Italy in the semifinals.
