Dubai: Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele ousted the experienced Anne Kremer 7-5, 7-6 (3) to set up a semifinal clash against Sandra Zahlavova, the 6-3, 6-2 onqueror of former World No.7 Nicole Vaidisova at the 11th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge Friday.
Considered favourites, both Kremer and Vaidisova did not have things going their way as Voegele stuck to her rigid game plan in getting past the experienced Kremer, while Vaidisova's bad run on a comeback trail extended further as she caved in to Zahlavova in straight sets in under one hour.
"I expected a much tougher fight here, but I was sort of surprised that I was doing well starting on her serves," Zahlavova told Gulf News.
Kremer too did not have things going her way as she made far too many mistakes on her battle on Court No.1 at the Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa here Friday.
Besides missing the easy shots at crucial junctures, the former World No.18 saw her serve desert her for most part of the match.
"It's simply too frustrating to be playing like that and trying to win," Kremer fumed. "I just didn't play well and made too many errors out there…far too many stupid mistakes," the 34-year-old stated.
Though relieved at going through to the semifinals, Voegele too was far from happy with her game as well.
"I am capable of much more than this," the Swiss girl said.
"I was trying to get my rhythm and then suddenly I was losing it at crucial junctures. I want to put this behind me and look forward to tomorrow's semifinal."
Meanwhile, in the lower half of the draw, Regina Kulikova of Russia accounted for yet another seed with a swift 6-2, 6-3 win against the eighth seeded Evgeniya Rodina. Kulikova, who had sent second seeded Kaia Kanepi packing in the second round, took just over one hour to stamp her superiority against the eighth-seeded Russian.
Earlier, Bojana Jovanovski halted the dream run of wild card Valeria Savinykh with a 6-2, 6-1 win against the gutsy Russian in a mere 50 minutes.
Jovanovski relieved
Unheralded Bojana Jovanovski is breathing easy as there are no Japanese players left in the 11th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge.
After easing her way past wild card Valeria Savinykh 6-2, 6-1 in only 50 minutes yesterday, the Serb had an admission to make: she could see herself less under pressure merely because there are no Japanese left in the competition.
And she has every reason to be concerned for her last two opponents in the finals were both Japanese, and she lost in both.
Both defeats came in November, one in Japan at the $100,000 and the second at the $50,000 held in Pune, India. Her opponent in Tokyo was Date Krumm and in Pune was Rica Fujiwara. "I have been playing at my best potential, and now that there are no more Japanese players here I feel more at ease," she admitted. The only player from Japan at this tournament was top seed in the qualifiers, Erika Sema, who did not make it into the main round.
Singles quarterfinals results
Regina Kulikova bt Evgeniya Rodina 6-2, 6-3; Bojana Jovanovski bt Valeria Savinykh 6-2, 6-1; Stefanie Voegele bt Anne Kremer 7-5, 7-6 (3); Nicole Vaidisova vs Sandra Zahlavova
Doubles quarterfinals: Darija Jurak/Katalin Marosi bt Ekaterina Dzehalevich/Yuliana Fedak 6-0, 7-5; Vladimira Uhlirova/Renata Voracova bt Valeria Savinykh/Marta Sirotkina 6-1, 6-0; Ksenia Lykina/Evgeniya Rodina bt Alexandra Dulgheru/Erika Sema 6-0, 6-4; Julia Goerges/Oksana Kalashnikova bt Bojana Jovanovski/Vokislava Lukic 6-4, 6-2.
