===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
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1. Photos
2. Quarter-final review: Zvonarėva v Bartoli

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1. Photos
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Quarter-finalists including Marion Bartoli:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/?Event=melbourne_qf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7852626.stm
http://preview.tinyurl.com/bpub29 (www.telegraph.co.uk)

Marion Bartoli and Elena Dementieva off court:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yqhy5u (www.sonyericssonwtatour.com)

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2. Quarter-final review: Zvonarėva v Bartoli
(Tuesday 27th January 2009)
--------------------------------------------

Nice winner, nice loser:
+ VERA ZVONARĖVA [7,EF] d. MARION BARTOLI [16,DF,S], 6-3 6-0

Another stunning performance by Vera to extend her ownership of Marion to 7:1. Marion led 3-1*, but then lost every single game left in the match as she wilted in the extreme heat.

Marion described Vera as follows: "She's almost like a ball-machine: she just puts it back at you all the time with interest."

The match was second on Rod Laver Arena (following a doubles-match), so it would have been played in the Australian mid-afternoon, while I was sleeping in England.

Vera and Marion both agreed that Vera could go all the way here. Well, I think Vera would have been licking her lips if she saw how badly Dinara Safina played against an exhausted Jelena Dokic:
Vera had a golden opportunity to reach the final, but she would certainly have had a tough opponent in the final.


3.1 Statistics
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The match lasted 1h09m (first set 38m, second set 31m).

Vera had a W:UE ratio of 17:17, while Marion's was a disastrous 9:26. They were actually very similar in the first set (Vera 7:15, Marion 6:15), but in the second set, Vera's was 10:2 to Marion's 3:10.

Vera got only 52% of her first serves in (dipping from 59% in the first set to 40% in the second), winning 74% of the points when she did so, and a healthy 57% on second serve (her winning-percentages improved from (65%, 50%) for the first set to (100%, 67%) for the second).

Marion got 63% of her first serves in, but her winning-percentages were very poor: 50% on her first serve, 25% on second serve. All three percentages were very similar when comparing the two sets.

Vera had the bigger first serve: fastest 107-106 mph, average 100-95 mph. Marion's second serve was slightly faster than Vera's on average: 85-83 mph.

They each served one ace; Vera served 3 double faults to Marion's 4 (all 7 of their double faults came in the first set).

Vera broke 6 times from 13 BPs (3 from 7 in the first set, 3 from 6 in the second), while Marion had just 4 BPs (all in the first set): converting two of them.

Vera won 10 of 12 points at the net (83%) - including a perfect 7 of 7 in the second set - while Marion won just 3 of 10 (30%).

In points, Vera won 61-37 (first set 33-25, second set 28-12).


3.2 Articles
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Zvonarėva storms into semi-finals [CEEFAX 490->492]
>>>
Seventh seed Vera Zvonarėva made short work of France's Marion Bartoli to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.

The Russian took time to settle against the 16th seed, and was broken twice as she trailed 1-3 in the first set.

But Bartoli's game then completely fell apart, and Zvonarėva's agility around the court saw her reel off 11 games in a row to claim an amazing victory.

Third seed Dinara Safina takes on home-hope Jelena Dokic later on Tuesday, with the winner meeting Zvonarėva.
<<<

Russian Zvonarėva breezes into semi [Teletext 495->497]
>>>
Zvonarėva into first semi [Teletext 497]

Vera Zvonarėva produced a superb performance as she saw off Marion Bartoli at Melbourne Park to reach her first Major semi-final.

Bartoli started well and led the Russian 3-1 in the opening set, but the seventh seed then won the next 11 straight games for a 6-3 6-0 victory.

The 24-year-old will meet either third seed Dinara Safina or Australian Jelena Dokic for a place in the final.
<<<>>>
Russian: I had to improve [Teletext 497]

Vera Zvonarėva admitted she had needed to transform her display in the first set of her quarter-final triumph over Marion Bartoli at Melbourne Park.

The Russian seventh seed was down 1-3 in the opening set, but won 11 straight games as she recorded a 6-3 6-0 win.

She said: "I thought Marion was playing really well in the beginning. Then I was able to cut down on my unforced errors, and it made the difference."
<<<>>>
Bartoli hails Russian [Teletext 497]

Marion Bartoli has backed Vera Zvonarėva's title-credentials after losing to the Russian in Melbourne.

French 16th seed Bartoli, who had beaten world No.1 Jelena Jankovic in the last round, fell to a 6-3 6-0 defeat in their quarter-final clash.

She said: "If she keeps playing like this, she can definitely win this tournament. She's almost like a ball-machine. She played unbelievably well."
<<<

Zvonarėva first to final four
By Tom Kelly (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
World No.7 Vera Zvonarėva has powered through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open 2009, reeling off the last 11 games of the match to dispatch Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-0 in their quarter-final on Tuesday.

Seemingly unable to handle both the heat on court and the heat of Zvonarėva's groundstrokes, 16th seed Bartoli looked a different player to the one who beat world No.1 Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.

Three breaks of serve started the match: the Frenchwoman playing safer from the back of the court, and initially making fewer errors.

However, at 3-1 up and looking to have set up a decisive lead, Bartoli's game began to crack as Zvonarėva tightened her own.

The 24-year-old Russian – a first-round loser here last year [she retired with an ankle-injury] – levelled scores at 3-3, powering through the next three to wrap up the set with a clean winner.

Bartoli's serve was broken again in the first game of the second, and her resolve seemingly followed soon after.

As the set progressed, the Frenchwoman wilted in the heat, errors flowing off her racquet with alarming regularity.

On the other side of the net, Zvonarėva could sense her impending maiden Major semi-final; she moved her opponent around the court, committing just two unforced errors for the set.

The Muscovite now awaits the winner of Jelena Dokic and Dinara Safina tonight, and should be confident that she can make her maiden Major final after winning her last three matches against the World No.3 and her only encounter with the Australian.

Quick facts:

* Zvonarėva served at just 49%, but won 74% of points when her first serve was successful.

* The Russian had 17 winners and 17 unforced errors; Bartoli had just nine winners and made 26 unforced errors.

* Zvonarėva converted six of her 13 break-point opportunities, while Bartoli capitalised on two of her four break-point chances.

* The second set, where Bartoli won just 12 points, lasted 30 minutes.
<<<

Business as usual for red-hot Russian
By Tom Kelly (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Trying conditions, as Marion Bartoli learned today, are often as challenging to overcome as the player on the other side of the net.

After surrendering meekly in her quarter-final against Vera Zvonarėva on Tuesday, the No.16 seed was keen to make a point in her post-match press-conference.

"It was quite, quite hot. I have to say it was definitely some tough condition... I don't think it's really fair to have one quarter-final played at 1:00 - right in the middle of the heat - and one playing at 7:30. But I guess that's the way it is."

The conditions, with temperatures rising to 35°C in Melbourne on Tuesday, were less of a problem for Zvonarėva.

"I don't think there is something unfair," the Russian said. "It's a schedule. I think I played good my match, and hopefully they [Dinara Safina and Jelena Dokic] will have a good match tonight.

"I think it's going to be [a] very tough and a very interesting match. All players are very tough in the quarter-finals, so you never know what's gonna happen out there."

Business as usual – that's the line being toed by the world No.7.

Despite a 2008 in which she re-established herself in the top 10 – winning two titles and making the final of the season-ending WTA Tour Championships – Zvonarėva still slips under the radar.

And that's the way she likes it.

"I'm not really thinking about the scores or sets, or any statistics. I'm just trying to concentrate on every match, and trying my best in every match," she said.

"For me, it doesn't really matter what's happening around any other matches. I just try to concentrate on myself as much as possible; try to improve match to match, because I know I need it.

"That's why I'm just looking forward for the next one - not thinking about anything else.

"If I'm in the tournament, I'm here to try to win it."

Indeed, Zvonarėva has a golden opportunity to make her first Major final, even if she is unwilling to think that far ahead.

Importantly, the Muscovite's run to the Tour Championships final – where she lost but took a set off champion Venus Williams – included three wins over top-five opponents [four over top-seven opponents].

It's no surprise, then, that she has achieved her best Major showing in her very next tournament played for ranking-points.

After starting slowly against Bartoli, Zvonarėva's all-court game kicked into gear: the No.7 seed reeling off the last 11 games of the match.

"I was able to play [a] very clean match today. I think that's what made the difference... in the beginning, I made a few unforced errors and I was down, because Marion wasn't giving me any opportunities.

"It was very tough and very close. I think every point, we both were fighting as hard as we can.

"It's just [that] today, it happened [that] I was able to be a little bit better than her."
<<<

Zvonarėva Cruises, Makes First Major Semi-final
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2928
>>>
History definitely repeated itself on Tuesday, as Vera Zvonarėva continued to dominate her head-to-head with Marion Bartoli with a runaway 6-3 6-0 win in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. Zvonarėva now advances to her first Major singles semi-final.

Their respective round-of-16 matches made it seem like No.16 seed Bartoli was perhaps in stronger form, as she hit nearly twice as many winners as unforced errors to upset top seed and world No.1 Jelena Jankovic in straight sets: 6-1 6-4. Meanwhile, the No.7-seeded Zvonarėva was struggling past No.10 seed Nadia Petrova, although she did edge her compatriot in two sets: 7-5 6-4.

Zvonarėva had won six of her seven career-encounters against Bartoli, however, and in Melbourne, she improved that to seven of eight with the aforementioned 69-minute rout, losing her serve twice early in the first set, but winning 11 straight games from 1-3 down to steamroll past her bewildered French opponent.

"I don't know what happened - I thought Marion was playing really well in the beginning, but I was able to cut down on my unforced errors and keep a good level of play throughout the rest of the match," Zvonarėva said. "I was able to play a very, very clean match today. That's what made the difference."

"She just played unbelievably well; she barely missed a ball after that," Bartoli said of the 11-game streak. "I was hitting as hard as I could, but she was always coming back with some better shots. Even when she was scrambling, she was putting the ball just 10 centimetres from the baseline. She was reading my game like a book. She was just too good - just better than me today."

For a player who has spent as much time ranked inside the world's top ten as Zvonarėva, it may come as somewhat of a shock that this was only her second Major singles quarter-final, having reached the final eight at the French Open once - nearly five years ago in 2003. But her form over the last year has hinted at a major breakthrough for the 24-year-old Muscovite, as she worked her way from outside the top twenty all the way to No.7 by year's end, winning two WTA Tour titles and reaching another six finals, including at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships. Nobody else reached eight finals in 2008.

Bartoli can only take positives away from Melbourne. She battled past tough opponents in her early rounds - including rallying from 3-6 0-2 down against former Australian Open quarter-finalist Lucie Šafįrovį in the third round - and notched her second win over a world No.1 against Jankovic - her first also coming at a Major, having beaten Justine Henin in the semi-finals of Wimbledon two years ago. She had never passed the second round previously here, either.

The second semi-final was scheduled for the evening-session, pitting No.3 seed Dinara Safina against wildcard Jelena Dokic.
<<<

Zvonarėva crushes Bartoli to reach semi-finals (Reuters)
By Julian Linden (editing by John O'Brien and Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
Vera Zvonarėva reached the semi-finals of a Major for the first time in her career after she won 11 games in a row to demolish Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-0 at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

Frenchwoman Bartoli made a bright enough start to open up a 3-1 lead in the first set, but she was unable to cope with the Russian's power when she suddenly raised her game.

Seventh seed Zvonarėva went on to register an easy victory in just 68 minutes with a performance that even she was unable to explain.

"I don't know what happened," Zvonarėva said.

"Marion was playing really well in the beginning and I made a few unforced errors, so that's why I think I was down 3-1.

"Then I was able to cut down on my unforced errors, and I was able to keep a good level of play throughout the whole match."

Zvonarėva is one of four Russians still in contention for the title, and will meet her compatriot Dinara Safina in the last four [this was a pretty arrogant assumption at the time this article was published!], ensuring there will be at least one Russian in the women's final for the third year running at Melbourne Park [Maria Sharapova was runner-up in 2007 and won in 2008].

Despite being a consistent top-ten player, Zvonarėva has a modest record at the Majors, and the only time previous time she had made it past the fourth round was at the French Open 2003, when she made the quarter-finals.

MAJOR CONTENDER

However, the 24-year-old has been in career-best form in Melbourne this year, winning all of her matches in straight sets, to emerge as a contender for the first Major of the year.

"I'm pretty confident in myself. If I'm in the tournament, I'm here to try to win it," she said.

"I think I played very good tennis. I think Marion's been playing very good as well, but I was able to play a very clean match today. That's what made the difference."

Bartoli - a Wimbledon-finalist two years ago - had also been in great touch this past week, beating world number-one Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.

The 16th seed is recognised as one of the hardest hitters in women's tennis, but admitted she had no answer to Zvonarėva's power.

"I don't think I put in a bad performance," Bartoli said. "She was just coming [up] every time with a better shot to my shot.

"Sometimes you have to accept [that] someone is just better than you.

"She just played unbelievably well. It seemed like she was reading my game like a book.

"If she keeps playing like this, she can definitely win this tournament."

Like Novak Šokovic in the men's tournament, Bartoli also mentioned struggling in the Melbourne-heat.

"I have to say it was definitely some tough conditions," she said.

"It was really hot. I don't think it's really fair to have one quarter-final played at 1:00 - right in the middle of the heat - and one playing at 7:30pm. But I guess that's the way it is."

Zvonarėva is one of four Russian women still in contention for the title, and will face either countrywoman Dinara Safina or Australia's Jelena Dokic in Thursday's semi-finals.
<<<

I can win it, says ice-cool Zvonarėva after Bartoli-blowout (AFP)
>>>
On Tuesday, Russian seventh seed Vera Zvonarėva coolly declared herself ready to win the Australian Open after crushing France's Marion Bartoli in searing conditions to reach the semi-finals.

The 23-year-old blew 16th seed Bartoli off court in a one-sided 6-3
6-0 drubbing, rattling off 11 straight games after going down 1-3 in the first set, as her opponent Bartoli wilted in the hot conditions.

The Russian maintained her ominous form at this year's tournament to reach her first Major semi-final in 25 attempts in emphatic fashion.

Far from being overawed at advancing so far, Zvonarėva immediately turned up the heat on her rivals by declaring herself ready to join the élite group of Major winners.

"If I'm coming for the tournament, I'm pretty confident in myself," she said. "If I'm in the tournament, I'm here to try to win it."

Bartoli agreed that Zvonarėva could go all the way here, where she is yet to drop a set, and has held her opponents to 6-0 in four of the ten sets she has contested.

"She's almost like a ball-machine: she just puts it back at you all the time with interest," the Frenchwoman said.

"There is not any weakness into her game [that] I can find. She's serving well, moving well, hitting the ball well. Of course she can win this tournament."

The ease with which Zvonarėva handled the heat - which left Bartoli bent double and sucking for breath - may also count in her favour as the tournament advances, with heatwave-conditions forecast at Melbourne Park this week.

"I like it when it's warm, so it's perfect for me," she said.

The heat meant Bartoli - a Wimbledon-finalist in 2007 - could not repeat the aggressive game-plan with which she thrashed world number-one Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.

Her all-out attack worked early as she scored two breaks [to one] to go up 3-1 in the first set, but proved too draining over the course of the match.

Bartoli initially succeeded in keeping the points short, taking advantage of a Zvonarėva double fault and a rash of unforced errors from the Russian to go up a break in the first game.

Zvonarėva broke back in the next, but Bartoli left her stranded with a lob to regain the advantage.

By this time, Bartoli was covering her head with a towel between games to provide some relief from the heat, and Zvonarėva began moving her around the court.

The 23-year-old Frenchwoman surrendered the advantage three games later, committing two double faults and allowing Zvonarėva to level the set at 3-3.

The Russian, who took a 6:1 winning-record against Bartoli into the match, never looked back, and her penetrating groundstrokes finally began to find their mark.

She gained the upper hand with another break to go up 5-3, sending down her first ace of the match in the next as she went on to serve out the set after 38 minutes.

The conditions took their toll on Bartoli in the second set, and Zvonarėva moved her around the court, breaking her three times as she raced to a 6-0 win in just 30 minutes.
<<<

Safina, Zvonarėva advance to semis at Australian Open (PA SportsTicker)
>>>
The 22-year-old Safina next will face Vera Zvonarėva in the semi-finals after her seventh-seeded compatriot cruised to a 6-3 6-0 victory over France's Marion Bartoli - the 16th seed - earlier on Tuesday.

Zvonarėva trailed 1-3 in the first set of her match against Bartoli, but rallied to win 11 straight games, needing just over an hour to forge the victory in straight sets.

The result was all the more impressive after Bartoli had completely outplayed top-seeded Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.

Bartoli started well and broke serve in the third game of the first set, but Zvonarėva battled back, evening the match at 3-3 after coming out on top of a fine rally.

The 24-year-old then won the next three games to claim the first set in 38 minutes before maintaining her momentum in the second set to breeze to victory.
<<<

Dokic-dream ends (Reuters)
By Ossian Shine (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
Safina next meets fellow Russian and seventh seed Vera Zvonarėva after she eased into the women's semi-finals with victory over Marion Bartoli.

The Frenchwoman also wilted during the 6-3 6-0 thrashing.

"I have to say it was definitely some tough conditions," she told reporters. It was really hot."
<<<

Exhausted Šokovic out as Safina ends Dokic dream-run (AFP)
>>>
Safina will now meet seventh seeded compatriot Vera Zvonarėva for a place in the final, after the Russian coolly disposed of France's Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-0.

Bartoli felt the effects of the searing heat in her match against Zvonarėva, often bending double and sucking for breath.

She started strongly, but rapidly wilted in a one-sided drubbing to a player who is now in her first Major semi-final in 25 attempts.

Zvonarėva declared herself ready to win the tournament.

"If I'm coming for the tournament, I'm pretty confident in myself," she said. "If I'm in the tournament, I'm here to try to win it."

Bartoli agreed that Zvonarėva could go all the way here, where she is yet to drop a set.

"She's almost like a ball-machine: she just puts it back at you all the time with interest," the Frenchwoman said.
<<<

Zvonarėva cruises into tennis semis as Safina toughs it out (AFP)
>>>
Russian Vera Zvonarėva coolly took apart France's Marion Bartoli on Tuesday to reach the Australian Open semi-finals, while compatriot Dinara Safina almost imploded before overcoming wildcard Jelena Dokic.

Zvonarėva - seeded seventh - showed no sign of discomfort in searing conditions at Melbourne Park, blowing 16th seed Bartoli off court in a one-sided 6-3 6-0 drubbing.

The 24-year-old maintained her ominous form at this year's tournament, rattling off 11 straight games after going down 1-3 in the first set, to reach her first Major semi-final in 25 attempts in emphatic fashion.

Far from being overawed at advancing so far, Zvonarėva immediately turned up the heat on her rivals by declaring herself ready to join the élite group of Major winners.

"If I'm coming for the tournament, I'm pretty confident in myself," she said. "If I'm in the tournament, I'm here to try to win it."

Bartoli agreed that Zvonarėva could go all the way here, where she is yet to drop a set, and has held her opponents to 6-0 in four of the 10 sets she has contested.

"She's almost like a ball-machine: she just puts it back at you all the time with interest," the Frenchwoman said.

The ease with which Zvonarėva handled the heat - which left Bartoli bent double and sucking for breath - may also count in her favour as the tournament advances, with heatwave-conditions forecast at Melbourne Park this week.

"I like it when it's warm, so it's perfect for me," she said.
<<<

Safina beats Dokic to reach semis (BBC Sport)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7852624.stm
>>>
Safina will now play her compatriot Vera Zvonarėva after the seventh seed eased past France's Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-0.

The 24-year-old Zvonarėva took time to settle against the 16th seed, and was broken twice as she trailed 1-3 in the first set.

But Bartoli's game then completely fell apart in the fierce heat, and Zvonarėva reeled off 11 games in a row to claim a one-sided victory and reach her first Major semi-final.

"I really thought Marion was playing really well in the beginning and I made a few unforced errors, so that's why I think I was down 3-1," said Zvonarėva.

"Then I was able to cut down on my unforced errors, and I was able to keep a good level of play throughout the whole match. I think it made the difference."

Zvonarėva has been in impressive form so far at Melbourne Park, reaching the last four without dropping a set.

And, although she started poorly against Bartoli in a scrappy opening that saw four breaks of serve in the opening six games, she quickly found her form.

In contrast, Bartoli - who knocked out top seed Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round - folded. The French star looked sluggish around the court, and her usually powerful groundstrokes lacked penetration and accuracy.

She offered little resistance as Zvonarėva broke three more times in the second set on her way to a comfortable victory that took a little over an hour.

"I think she played just unbelievably well," said Bartoli. "I was really feeling the heat after the end of the first set, so I really needed to cool down a little bit before to go on in the second.

"But I didn't find I was really putting a bad performance. She was just better - that's it."
<<<

Zvonarėva dominant in QF win against Bartoli (TENNIS.com)
>>>
The 24-year-old Russian's best performance in six previous trips to Melbourne was the fourth round — she'd gone out in the first round at the Australian Open three times, including last year. She also reached the quarter-finals at the 2003 French Open.

Seventh-seeded Zvonarėva rallied from an opening service-break to dominate Bartoli in the remainder of the match.

"I'm very excited about it," said Zvonarėva, who cut her unforced errors from 15 in the first set to two in the second. "I think it was a great day for me."

She's had four 6-0 sets out of the 10 in her five straight-sets wins.

"I'm not really thinking about the scores or sets or any statistics," she said. "I'm just trying to concentrate on every match and trying my best. And I think I've been doing pretty good so far."

Bartoli, seeded 16th, had ousted top-ranked Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.

"I think she played just unbelievably well," Bartoli said of the last 11 games. "She barely missed one ball after that. I was hitting as hard as I could. She was always coming back with some better shots."
<<<

Vera Sweeps Into Semis (Tennis Week)
>>>
Marion Bartoli crashed the Australian Open quarter-final party with a bold and bruising baseline-attack to bounce World No.1 Jelena Jankovic out of the draw.

But the sound and fury Bartoli brought to the court in the fourth round was strangely absent today as Vera Zvonarėva served as a tennis mute-button in silencing the former Wimbledon-finalist with the ease of a woman pressing all the right buttons.

Down an early break, Zvonarėva won 11 straight games to blow Bartoli away 6-3 6-0 and storm into her first career Major semi-final in her 25th career Major-tournament appearance.

The seventh-ranked Russian is playing with the confidence of a woman who fully believes she can reach the final and take the title, and why not? Zvonarėva is the only player who has yet to drop a set in the women's draw, and delivered her fourth shutout-set in five matches.

"If I'm coming for the tournament, I'm pretty confident in myself.
If I'm in the tournament, I'm here to try to win it," Zvonarėva said. "But I'm really concentrating on every match. For me, it doesn't really matter what's happening around any other matches.
I just try to concentrate on myself as much as possible, try to improve match to match because I know I need it. That's why I'm just looking forward for the next one - not thinking about anything else."

She has made a believer of Bartoli, who pronounced the Moscow-native capable of taking home the title.

"I think if she keeps playing like this, she can definitely win this tournament," Bartoli said. "She's really consistent out of the baseline. As I said, she's almost like a ball-machine. She just puts it back at you all the time, you know, with interest. There is not any weakness into her game [that] I can find. She's serving well, moving well, hitting the ball well. Of course she can win this tournament."

The mere sight of Zvonarėva across the net seems to vaporise Bartoli's resistence. Zvonarėva had lost just three sets to the Frenchwoman in winning six of their seven career-clashes. Though Bartoli won three of the first four games, she found herself being pushed behind the baseline by the depth of Zvonarėva's drives.

Competing with more intensity, Zvonarėva consistently caught the corners with crisp crosscourt shots that began to elude the restricted reach of Bartoli, who plays with two hands off both forehand and backhand.

Zvonarėva cracked an ace to reach set-point, and collected the 38-minute first set on a Bartoli backhand error.

The match was essentially over at that point as Bartoli - who spent some time between points leaning on her racquet as if it was a crutch keeping her upright - increasingly withered as on-court temperatures soared higher and hotter.

"I think she's just the better player. That's it," a blunt Bartoli said. "At a point, you have to admit when someone just plays better than you. I think she plays better than me on today. I don't know about the whole year, but today she just played better. I don't think I put a bad performance, but I think she was serving better in second serve than Jelena [Jankovic] was doing two days ago. I didn't have the same look at the same ball. I couldn't attack it the same way. She was moving faster. She was just coming every time with a better shot to my shot. You have to accept sometimes [that] someone is just better than you."

Zvonarėva broke to open the second set, and held at 15 to consolidate. Bending her knees to get down to a flat drive from Bartoli, Zvonarėva turned her hips into an inside-out forehand winner to collect her fourth consecutive service-break.

Running to her right, Zvonarėva curled a running forehand crosscourt winner to break for 5-0. A backhand winner down the line concluded a clinical and brutally efficient effort from Zvonarėva, who closed with a clenched fist and quick wave to all four corners of the court.

It's a career-milestone for the sensitive Moscow-native, but it was mild celebration. That may be because Zvonarėva is well aware that she's got more work to do and, more importantly, she knows she's capable of finishing off the job.

Zvonarėva will play the winner of tonight's quarter-final between third-ranked Dinara Safina and the resurgent Jelena Dokic. Zvonarėva has swept Safina three times in a row — all three wins were on hard courts last season — and is 1:0 against the 187th-ranked Dokic in a match played more than five years ago.
<<<

Jelena Dokic bows out of Australian Open as Dinara Safina reaches semi-finals (The Daily Telegraph - UK)
>>>
Dinara Safina has ended local hope Jelena Dokic's surprising run in the Australian Open, claiming a 6-4 4-6 6-4 quarter-final victory.

The win sees Safina advance to a semi-final against fellow Russian Vera Zvonarėva, who beat Marion Bartoli.

Seventh seed Zvonarėva produced a superb performance as the Russian saw off Bartoli of France in straight sets to secure her place in the semis.

Zvonarėva had trailed 1-3 in the first set, but then won the next 11 straight games for a 6-3 6-0 victory that took just over one hour at Rod Laver Arena.

The result was all the more impressive after 16th seed Bartoli had completely outplayed top seed Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.

Bartoli started well and broke serve in the third game of the first set, but Zvonarėva battled back to level at 3-3 after coming out on top of a fine rally.

The 24-year-old then won the next three games to claim the first set in 38 minutes, before maintaining her momentum in the second set to breeze to victory.

"I'm very excited about it," Zvonarėva said. "I think it was a great day for me.

"I'm not really thinking about the scores or sets, or any statistics. I'm just trying to concentrate on every match, and trying my best. And I think I've been doing pretty good so far."

Asked about Zvonarėva winning 11 straight games, Bartoli said:
"I think she played just unbelievably well.

"She barely missed one ball. I was hitting as hard as I could.
She was always coming back with some better shots."
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Safina, Zvonarėva Reach Aussie Semis (The Sports Network)
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Top-ten Russians Dinara Safina and Vera Zvonarėva were a pair of quarter-final winners on Tuesday at the Australian Open 2009: the first Major event of the year.

The third-seeded Safina held off resurgent Aussie wild card Jelena Dokic 6-4 4-6 6-4, while a seventh-seeded Zvonarėva zipped past 16th-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-0. The Wimbledon 2007 runner-up Bartoli stunned world No.1 Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round this past weekend.

The 22-year-old Safina - last year's French Open and Olympic runner-up - will appear in her third career Major semi-final, while the 24-year-old Zvonarėva will play in her first.

In the Zvonarėva v Bartoli affair, Zvonarėva fell behind 1-3 in the first set, but promptly won the next 11 games to easily finish the match against her overwhelmed French counterpart.

"I really thought Marion was playing really well in the beginning, and I made a few unforced errors, so that's why I think I was down
3-1," said Zvonarėva. "Then I was able to cut down on my unforced errors, and I was able to keep a good level of play throughout the whole match. I think it made the difference."

Bartoli committed 26 unforced errors and won just 5 of 20 points on her second serve in the searing heat at Melbourne Park. Temperatures climbed above 125°F on the court.

The Olympic Bronze-medallist Zvonarėva displayed a solid forehand, and went up 5-3 in the first set when Bartoli was wide on a return. The Russian served out the set, and then cruised in the second, ending the match with a backhand winner.

The second set, where Bartoli won just 12 points, lasted 30 minutes.

"Even when she was scrambling, she was putting the ball just ten centimeters from the baseline," said Bartoli. "It seems like she's reading my game like in the book. It was just too good. She was just better than me - that's it."
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--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-selesians