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Zvonareva Rolls Into 1st Slam Semi

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 27, 2009

MELBOURNE, Australia - Vera Zvonareva ran off 11 straight games in a 6-3, 6-0 win against Marion Bartoli at the Australian Open today to reach the semifinals for the first time in 25 majors.

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.

Seventh-seeded Zvonareva, who hasn't dropped a set in five matches, rallied from an opening service break to dominate 2007 Wimbledon finalist Bartoli in the remainder of their quarterfinal

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

Bartoli of France, seeded 16th, had ousted top-ranked Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.
Andy Murray may have to wait awhile before he's picked again to win a Grand Slam tournament.

Touted by British bookmakers as a favorite at the Australian Open, Murray lost to No. 14 Fernando Verdasco of Spain on Monday in the fourth round, falling 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

All of which was a big letdown for Murray, who defeated No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Roger Federer in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi this month leading to the season's first major.

"I don't know if I'll be the favorite for a Slam in the next year or so after today," he said.

Nadal had a far easier time, beating 2007 runner-up Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Serena Williams lost the first set 6-3 to 13th-seeded Victoria Azarenka but was up a break in the second when the 19-year-old Belorussian withdrew because of a virus.

Williams, who has won in Australia every alternate year since 2003, next plays Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 U.S. Open champion.
Olympic champion Elena Dementieva earned a 6-2, 6-2 win against Dominika Cibulkova to reach the quarterfinals here for the first time.

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