For the 25th time in their legendary careers, Venus and Serena Williams will face of against each other on Saturday. The two sisters somehow managed to get the better off Carla Suarez Navarro and Caroline Wozniacki in 2 hard-fought, thrilling 3 setters. Meanwhile with the men inToronto, Jo Wilfried Tsonga continued his giant killing week, with a battling performance over Andy Murray. Tsonga had already knocked out World No1 Novak Djokovic in the 3rd round.
ATP Rogers Cup: Toronto Day 5, QFs
Tsonga vs Murray
It’s already been a memorable 48 hours for former top 10er Jo Wilfried Tsonga. The Frenchman annihilated an out of sorts Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2 in the previous round.
That momentum and elation of beating the world’s best player, continued into the QF’s, in his match against the Olympic champion: Andy Murray
Tsonga know for his powerful forehand and knife edge first serve, went tope to toe with Murray in the first set.
Murray kept his pace and never allowed Tsonga to really dominate.
With neither player relenting on their serves, a first set tie0break loomed on the horizon.
The tie-break came and in the end, it was the behemoth Tsonga who just prevailed 7-5.
Murray though was not about to give up and went about levelling the match. His determination eventually saw him break through Tsonga’s tough armoury and snatch the 2nd set 6-4.
He then raced into a 3-0 lead in the decider, but Tsonga rallied- quickly breaking to get back in front.
Tsonga then serving for the match up 5-4, allowed Murray back in when 40-0 up. But the former AO finalist held on enough to take the 3rd 6-4 and record another stunning victory.
QF results:
Roger Federer bt David Ferrer: 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Feliciano Lopez bt Milos Raonic: 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3
Jo W Tsonga bt Andy Murray: 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4
Grigor Dimitrov bt Kevin Anderson: 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6)
WTA Rogers Cup: Montreal Day 5, QFs
Serena vs Wozniacki
They maybe good friends off the court, but they’re ruthless competitors on the court.
Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki have a tight friendship away from tennis, but it was anything but friendly in the QF’s
Wozniacki took it to the world No1 in the opening set, requiring just 1 break of serve to take the first set 6-4.
She further extended her lead, when she went ahead 4-2 in the 2nd.
Serena very nearly then went down 5-2 when she dropped the first 2 points to go 30-0.
But that famous serve of hers got her out of trouble yet again, as she then went about a slurry of 10 points in a row. That run saw her win 7 of the next 8 games and take the 2nd 7-5 and go up 2-0 in the 3rd.
But they don’t call the lady from Denmark, Miss Resilient for nothing you know.
Caro quickly caught up to 2-2, then dropped serve for Serena to go up 4-2. Wozniacki though came back at her again, levelling at 4-4. Nevertheless ‘Re Re’ held on long enough to eventually sneak out a 7-5 set win and with it a thrilling 3 set victory in 2hrs and 41 mins.
Venus vs Suarez Navarro
Lil sis had done her part in the dream SF clash, now it was up to big sis to put the final piece together.
Venus Williams who has been the revelation in Montreal this week, continued her dream run at the Rogers Cup, with a quite brilliant win over Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.
Suarez Navarro was riding high after her win over Maria Sharapova in the previous round, and she was no stranger over beating the 34 year old Venus.
The Spaniard in fact beaten Venus this season- in the 2nd rd of the Rome Masters. She also won the pairs first ever meeting- recording a famous victory over Venus in the 2nd rd of the Australian Open on 2009 (She saved a MP in the 3rd set).
She looked like getting a 3rd career win over Venus, when she won 5 straight games from 4-3 in the first set, to go up 6-4, 2-0.
But then Venus fighting skills were brought to the table as she finally kicked into gear. Her charge through Suarez Navarro saw her win 10 of the next 11 games, taking the 2nd 6-2 and building a 4-1 lead in the decider.
Suarez Navarro got back 2 games to 4-3, but Venus had just enough left in the tank to roll out a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.
On Saturday however, Big Sis will have to play the match off her life, if she is to beat her little sister for the first time in over 5 years.
QF results:
Serena bt Wozniacki: 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
Venus bt Suarez Navarro: 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Radwanska bt Azarenka: 6-2, 6-2
Makarova bt Coco Vandeweghe: 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
World Tennis News:
Roger Federer celebrates 33rd birthday with QF win at Rogers Cup.
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 