Sharapova Eases Into Wimbledon Final Four

Russian Maria Sharapova saw off her compatriot Elena Dementieva in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of the women's singles at the Wimbledon Tennis Championship here on Tuesday.
The 2004 champion, who had survived a tough fourth round battle against Flavia Pennetta, offered her seventh-seeded opponent few chances in a 6-1, 6-4 victory.
Sharapova was quickly into the action, seemingly picking up where she left off in her recent thrashing of Dementieva in Indian Wells, breaking at the first opportunity to establish an immediate 3-0 lead.
Dementieva, on the other hand, had difficulty with her own serve, an aspect of her game which she has tried to rectify by turning to Richard Krajicek for coaching, but under pressure inevitably reverted to type.
Despite two double faults, she held for 1-3 only to be hammered in the next as Sharapova blasted four deliveries to hold to love.
The 24-year-old Dementieva, playing her eighth Wimbledon, kept trying hard and improved enough in the second set to hold four of her service games and force two break point opportunities. But it was nowhere near enough to make a real impression on her opponent.

Wimbledon-Myskina aims volley at Jankovic

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - Anastasia Myskina launched a fierce verbal volley at Jelena Jankovic after winning their fourth round clash at Wimbledon on Monday.
Russian ninth seed Myskina won 6-4 7-6 but said she was rattled by her Serb opponent's on-court behaviour.
"She's a really strange player," Myskina told reporters.
"Let's put it that way. She walks on the court. I don't think she really care about the way she plays.
"She cares more about how she looks. That was kind of strange. She was touching her hair, whatever, her skirt.
"I was just thinking, 'if you don't want to play tennis, why are we even trying here so hard?'"
Myskina beat Jankovic 10-8 in the deciding set in a third round meeting at Wimbledon last year and there is clearly no love lost between the players.
"It's a little bit (distracting)," added former French Open champion Myskina who takes on Amelie Mauresmo in the pick of Tuesday's quarter-finals
"She took her towel here, she took a towel there. It's really annoying. She can play really well but she's like up and down all the time."
Myskina said she was just pleased to get through.
"I was a little bit tense because I wanted to finish the match. I put a little bit of pressure on myself."

Mixed Doubles News From Sania Mirza

LONDON: Sania Mirza and Pavel Vizner of Czech Republic nipped a late challenge by Fenando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues to move into the second round of the mixed doubles event at the Wimbledon on Saturday. Sania and Vizner defeated the Spanish duo 6-2 7-5 to set up a second round clash with Czech Republic’s Leos Friedl and Liezl Huber of South Africa.
Fourth seeds Leander Paes and Samantha Stosur, who had a bye in the first round, were level with Australian Paul Hanley and Tatiana Perebiynis of Ukraine 4-6 6-3 9-9 in a second round tie when play was suspended due to bad light. The match will be continued on Monday.
Mahesh Bhupathi and China’s Zi Yan, seeded 11th, also had a first-round bye. They will be up against Americans Bob Bryan and Venus Williams on Monday.

Li Na can’t believe she has made Wimbledon history

LI NA admitted she was stunned after upsetting Russian fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova to become the first Chinese player to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon.
Li Na, the 27th seed, will now face Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic tomorrow for a place in the quarter-finals.
"When I was in the locker room afterwards I couldn’t believe it," said the 24-year-old from Wuhan.
Li Na believes her decision to return to college in 2003 before resuming her tennis career has been one of the major reasons for her success.
"Definitely that helped, before I was just a little girl and when something happened on court I couldn’t really think properly," she added.
"I think now I’ve grown up."
Zheng Jie, China’s world No 37, said she was delighted by Li Na’s achievement.
Zheng Jie, who was beaten in straight sets by Belgian second seed Kim Clijsters in the third round, said she was not surprised by Li Na’s 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Kuznetsova.
"I was not surprised that she beat her this time," said the 23-year-old.
"Two years ago she played her in the China Open and had two match points but she lost.
"She said yesterday morning that when she plays Kuznetsova she always loses in three sets but I told her she could win next time!"
Zheng Jie said she was pleased with her own performance in reaching the third round at only her second Wimbledon and was full of praise for Clijsters.
"She has a lot of power and a big serve," said Zheng Jie. "I returned well today but her serve is so strong that I didn’t have the chance.
"I think it isn’t bad to get to the third round as in China there are no grass courts."
Clijsters paid tribute to the Chinese girl.
"She’s a tough player. I played against her once in Hong Kong in an exhibition. It was a close match," said the Belgian. "She’s a counter-puncher. She likes to play fast rallies and likes to stand on the baseline and dictate the points.
"It was important for me to keep moving her side to side and not let her play her game."
Li Na, who clinched her first tour title at Guangzhou in 2004, is making her debut at Wimbledon and is the first Chinese player to be seeded at a Grand Slam.