Italian Flavia Pennetta completed the semifinal line-up at the BNP Paribas Open 2014 in Indian Wells on Thursday after eliminating Sloane Stephens of United States 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in a thriller quarterfinal match that lasted two hours and 26 minutes.
This was the first time that they’ve competed against each other on hardcourts as their past three meetings were contested on clay.
“We didn’t play our best tennis,” Pennetta said. “Maybe in the beginning we played much better, and in the second one, but the third was a disaster for both of us. I’m happy to get through this match, but I don’t have good feelings right now – it’s just crazy outside, the wind is just coming out of nowhere.
“But on the other hand I’m happy because I was 3-0 down in the third and fought until the last point.”
Pennetta will have another tough task ahead in the semifinals as she’s scheduled to meet top seed and world number two Li Na of China. Li Na eliminated Dominika Cibulkova in the quarterfinals earlier in the day.
“She plays more or less like me, but she’s more powerful than me,” Pennetta said. “I have to be really aggressive tomorrow and try to take control, but it’s not going to be easy. She’s so good. She’s playing unbelievable this year. She started amazing in Australia – the match was completely in one direction and I didn’t have any chances at all. But I hope to have a little bit of a chance tomorrow.”
