Zvonareva Comes Back Against Clijsters

At 6-2, 3-2, fifth seeded Kim Clijsters looked like she was on the way to her fourth title of the year and second in two weeks until eighth seeded Vera Zvonareva captured the momentum and refused to let go. Aided by tightness in Kim’s hip, Zvonareva caught up to and passed the Belgian hotshot en route to her semifinal berth across from hard-hitting Victoria Azarenka.

Zvonareva turned the table at 3-2 in the second set running off a nine game win streak that left Clijsters too far back to mount a serious comeback in the 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 Russian’s win. Clijsters started well as Zvonareva missed more backhands than she made and had numerous unforced errors and double faults until she finally mounted some offensive pressure midway through the second set.

Clijsters received help from trainers but was clearly having trouble pushing off on her serve as her unforced error count uncharacteristically passed the 40 mark early in the third set. By then Zvonareva had built a 5-0 third set lead and was unconcerned when Kim broke serve to get to 5-2. The Russian served out the match and will be favored in today’s semifinal pairing with Azarenka against whom the Russian holds a 4-2 career record.

Victoria has turned her season around and looks to be gearing up for a strong showing in New York. After breezing through the first set at 6-2, she found herself down quadruple match point in the second set tiebreaker against Marion Bartoli.

At that point the 5’ 11” blonde asserted herself by building off a big forehand winner and then serving with more consistency to run of six straight points and claim the quarterfinal win. Azarenka has the power game to take the title but with Victoria you are never exactly sure who will show up; the volatile emotional child or the disciplined tennis champion.

Svetlana Kuznetsova is getting her U.S. Open hard court game together. The Russian made quick work of China’s number two, Zheng Jie, with a 6-1, 6-3 victory. Zheng tried to mount a rally in the second set but Kuznetsova broke back to go up 5-3 and then sealed the match with a quick service game.

Second seeded Caroline Wozniacki showed some newfound power of her own and dispatched Italian Francesca Schiavone, who defeated the Dane in Paris. Wozniacki has added more depth to her serve and more power to her groundstrokes. She will need both against the veteran Kuznetsova, a two-time Grand Slam winner.

However, in he 6-3, 6-2 quarterfinal win, Wozniacki looked very much in control and appeared a solid second seed. Saturday should be a fun day In Montreal where the seats have been packed for the Rogers Cup tournament.