Aggressive Zvonareva charges into Melbourne semis

Vera Zvonareva of Russia celebrates during her quarterfinal match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 26, 2011

Photo: Reuters

Vera Zvonareva came a step closer to her maiden grand slam on Wednesday, muscling her way into the semifinals of the Australian Open with a 6-2 6-4 win over rangy Czech Petra Kvitova.

The Russian bullied the 20-year-old's serve with a fierce display of clean hitting from the baseline then weathered a late fight-back to close out the match in 75 minutes.

"She's (had) a great run here," Zvonareva said in a courtside interview of Kvitova, who knocked off seeds in her path to the quarterfinals but struggled to find her line against the Russian.

"I was just trying to hang in the there and fight for every point, just try to stay aggressive and that's about it."

The world number two mowed through the first set in 29 minutes and marched to a 3-0 lead in the second before Wimbledon semifinalist Kvitova snapped out of her stupor under leaden skies at Rod Laver Arena.

The sound of booming cannons fired as part of celebrations for the country's national holiday on Wednesday challenged the players' concentration, while what appeared to be an elderly spectator collapsing held up play for a couple of minutes.

Kvitova seemed to recover quickest from the distractions, breaking Zvonareva at 3-3 after a fierce baseline battle that ended with the Russian poking a forehand into the net.

"It was a bit of a difficult moment there... It was a little bit distracting," said Zvonareva, finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.

However, the 26-year-old held her nerve to break straight back then benefited from a net cord deflection at 5-4 that stopped the ball dead on Kvitova's side.

Kvitova, serving to stay in the match, scrambled forward to keep the ball in play, but Zvonareva calmly lobbed her to bring up match point and pumped her fists in celebration when the tiring Czech clubbed a forehand long to surrender.

Zvonareva will play the winner of Agnieszka Radwanska and Kim Clijsters for a place in the final.

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic throws her racket during the women's quarterfinal match against Vera Zvonareva of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 26, 2011

Favorite Clijsters prepares for Zvonareva's best

Kim Clijsters (L) of Belgium is congratulated by Venus Williams of the US after winning their match at the US Open tennis tournament in New York September 10, 2010

Photo: Reuters

If winning the US Open ever came down to a popularity contest, Kim Clijsters would be roared to victory every time.

The Belgian mother charmed the New York crowds last year when she celebrated an unlikely victory by fooling around with her infant daughter Jada on the center court.

Clijsters has won the hearts of the crowds again this year, despite reaching Saturday's final at the expense of the last American left standing in the singles draw, Venus Williams.

The 27-year-old came from behind to win 4-6 7-6 6-4 on Friday and will play Vera Zvonereva in the final after the Russian upset Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3.

She is sure to be the favorite both the odds makers and the spectators in the stands.

She was a finalist at the US Open in 2004 then won the title in 2005. She missed the next three years, first through injury then after taking a break to start a family, before winning on her return in 2009.

Her winning streak now stands at 20 matches and the crowds have been lapping it up. It is as though her fairytale run to the title last year is being played out all over again.

The former world number one knows, however, that sentiment plays no part in professional tennis and her Russian opponent is dangerous, despite never having won a major title.

This year Zvonareva played her first grand slam final at Wimbledon and she has not dropped a set so far at Flushing Meadows. More worryingly for Clijsters, Zvonareva has won their last two clashes, both this year, after losing the first five.

Smart player

"She's a player who doesn't give you much,” Clijsters said. “She's always there, hangs in there."

"It's not that she has a game that's very unpredictable but what she does she does extremely well."

The seventh-seeded Zvonareva is not only one of the most improved players on the women's tour, she is also one of the smartest.

She combines her playing career with studying for a double degree and has learnt her lessons on the court as much as off it.

A year ago, she self-destructed in the quarterfinals in New York. This time, she has been a model of composure.

"As long as you know yourself and you know which emotions are good for you, which are bad, you can use it to your advantage," the 26-year-old said.

"I think that tennis is an emotional game and that you should show your emotions, because it shows that you are trying your best out there."

Although she has won their two most recent clashes, Zvonareva remains wary of the more experienced Clijsters.

"She's a great mover on the court,” Zvonareva said. “She has a lot of experience, she won here last year."

"It's going to be tough. We played a couple of matches in the past couple of months, but those matches are in the past."

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Wozniacki cruises to win at Montreal Cup

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark hoists the trophy after defeating Vera Zvonareva of Russia in the rain delayed final at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Montreal, August 23, 2010

Photo: Reuters

World number two Caroline Wozniacki breezed to a 6-3 6-2 victory over Vera Zvonareva in the final of the rain-hit Montreal Cup on Monday, confirming her status as the red-hot favorite for the US Open.

Wozniacki, runner-up to Kim Clijsters at last year's US Open, once again appears to be hitting her hard court stride at just the right moment collecting her third win of the season and second hard court title in three weeks.

Following the victory, the 20-year-old Dane quickly packed her bags and headed off for her final US Open tune-up in New Haven where she is the top seed and defending champion.

A razor-sharp Wozniacki began the day crushing Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2 6-3 in their rain delayed semifinal held over from Saturday and then disposed of Wimbledon finalist Zvonareva in just 74 minutes.

"After waiting around two days and unable to play I actually felt a little bit tired going out for my first match because mentally you have to be prepared all the time," Wozniacki told reporters. "But I'm so happy, I won two matches today and it is a great feeling."

The players were back on center court just two hours after their semifinal matches and Zvonareva, who advanced when Victoria Azarenka retired with blisters while trailing 7-6 1-0, was quick out of the blocks with the early break.

But Wozniacki was soon in control sweeping through the next four games.

Zvonareva had a chance to extend the set earning triple break point with Wozniacki serving at 5-3 but could not convert, the Dane fighting back to take the first.

Wozniacki kept up the pressure in the second gaining the early break while a frustrated Zvonareva started gesturing and talking to herself.

Sensing the Russian's aggravation, Wozniacki moved in for the kill with another break in the seventh game than served out to clinch her ninth career title.

Wozniacki, who is likely to be awarded the number one seed at Flushing Meadows after world number one Serena Williams was ruled out of the grand slam with injury, can take over top spot in the rankings with a successful title defense in New Haven and a victory at the US Open.

"Of course I would like to be number one in the world but Serena is a great champion, she's won so many grand slams," said Wozniacki. "My goal for now is just to try to win a grand slam and the number one spot is secondary to that."

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