Hantuchova and Radwanska not far off starting. I like Radwanska and hope to see more of her in the future, but I think Dani's experience will see through here in two sets. Definitely a toughie to call though.

On the other hand, Venus vs Ivanovic, which comes straight after the conclusion of that match, is rather less difficult to call. It is actually quite absurdly simple: Venus will win in straight sets like she always does against Ana. In fact, to save time for anyone who stays up to watch this mismatch, I'll write it here now:

GSM Venus.

I can see Radwanska winning her match, I'm not sure Hantuchova's experience is all that great; I don't think she's ever been further than the quarter finals of a grand slam.

As for Ivanovic vs. Venus, I suppose you'd have to make Venus the slight favourite, but I can definitely see Ana pulling it off.

dani gets a time violation warning. and rightly so her pace is excruciating. her play is impressive though 4-1.

dani's drive volley is a potent weapon, giving rad no read and no time.

rad has a very good return but dani seems to have the answer to everything so far. 5-2.

Radwanska is reeling off some very impressive winners from nowhere, but unfortunately she hasn't strung enough of them together to matter. Hantuchova has had several opportunities to get shaky but hasn't, instead keeping a firm grip on her early lead. From 5-2 I'm thinking she will break for the set.

Saves a set point with a second serve ace! She's a steely lass all right. Reminds me of Szavay saving a match point with one in the Beijing final (and of course she went on to win the title). Five set points saved, all told.

Now Radwanska earns her very first game point. Still not out of the woods though.

wow, what a set from dani. she didn't put a foot wrong.

It was one set point too many. Hantuchova wraps up the first set 6-2 and looks a good bet to reach her first Slam semi. Radwanska is unlikely to go anywhere just yet, however.

Radwanska has a look at her first break point of the match, but it is short-lived as she is sent running from side to side by Hantuchova and barely gets a racquet on a forehand drive into the corner to send it sailing wide.

She is then promptly broken to love by a ruthless Hantuchova, despite a service game in which she didn't miss a first serve. The ninth seed has a routine hold to consolidate for 3-0, and things are looking grim for the Polish ingenue.

rad was in precisely this situation in the last round wasn't she?

Had a feeling this might happen... one match too many for Radwanska perhaps? Sounds like Hantuchova is having an inspired day at the office herself.

And before this match finishes and I'm tempted to lure myself into watching Ana's match in the false belief that she won't lose tamely, I'm gonna hit the sack. Night all.

Good point! B) And Hantuchova has been known to go on mental walkabouts as puzzling as any of the top Russians. We'll see how it goes.

Staring down a 0-4 hole, Radwanska brings up a couple of break points with some aggressive play. Hantuchova sends up one of her trademark poorly-chosen dropshot attempts that catches the tape and Radwanska retrieves one break. She still trails 1-4 but has at least spared herself a possible whitewash.

It's a short reprieve for the Polish teen, who is broken to 30 from leading 30-15. Hantuchova goes up 5-1 and will serve for a place in the semis.

Radwanska keeps up the trend of threatening in each of Hantuchova's service games this set, knocking off a few classy return winners, but two break points go begging. Deuce.

She makes good on her third, and there is some life left yet in this quarterfinal. Radwanska hangs on the precipice at 2-5.

great courage from radwanska to break when dani was serving for it. she's played well but dani's been a revelation.

oh dear on matchball i think rad played a ball that was going out and made a complete hash of it to concede the match. ouch 6-2 6-2.

It turns out to be a last gasp. Hantuchova won't be denied, and she pounces on her first match point to join the last four 6-2, 6-2. The scoreline probably doesn't do Radwanska justice, with many games going to deuce, but the Slovak veteran was all business from the first point and never let her into it. Well done.

It's almost enough to make me wonder if she has an outside chance for the final, if Venus and Ivanovic leave each other battered after Hantuchova had an easy time of it.

Good good stuff there from both Venus and Ana. GSM Ana in the end though. 2 tight sets.
Was a difficult one for me to cheer on as I like them both but Ana really pulled out some big shots when it was needed. Venus, as ever also pulled them out but Ana just had the answer today.
Shame for Venus, I was hoping she would get to the final but, I expect Ana to easily get past Daniela and meet either Maria or Jelena.

Who would have thought at the beginning of the tournament, the semi's would be - Maria- Jelena and Ana - Daniela.. the depth in the womens game at the moment is pretty exciting. :ok:

I'm loving women's tennis right now even though I could only follow it online (stupid US TV in the hotel). 3-4-5-9 in the Semi's when the pundits expected to see Venus, Serena & Justine there.

I'm hoping for an all-Serbian final but expect to see Ana against Maria.

Bet you're glad you got that wrong... :D

i bet you're kicking yourself now!

well done Ana!!! :bow:

:blink:

thats a big fat zero for me in the womens then - but well done to both Ana and Dani... :clap:

For me, this tournament hasn't proven anything about the depth in women's tennis. It's only proven that having a high ranking doesn't make you a consistently good player in the women's game. The error count in the Williams-Ivanovic match was ridiculous, just like it was it was in the Williams-Jankovic match.

The only good match I've seen is the one between Henin and Sharapova, because that's the only one where someone actually won the match herself.

My definition of depth doesn't include a lot of players playing badly, it includes a lot of players playing well and giving us good matches.

So Glad Ana won! Might actually start following Women's tennis again.

wow, was not expecting these semis!

really hope Ana can win the slam now, really dont want Shara to have it...

:chesire: :chesire: :chesire: :chesire: :chesire:

:wub: :wub: :wub:

SO gutted :( :( :(

One of Venus's best chances to get into the final, but Ivanovic played so well. Hitting the ball so freely and played some amazing shots i must say.

Venus played ok, but tetchy tennis on big points. Serve wasnt firing very well, and her backhand shockingly was so tentative and error-strewn. I just feel with a touch more consistency she could'vepushed it into a third, especially being up 3-0 :(

Ah well, she's had a good tourny and is moving up the rankingsagain :D

Well played Ana though, one of the best matches she's played. So resilient and composed, and hung tough when Venus has breakpoints at 4-5 in the second. Just very well played :ok:

well done Dani, your first Slam semi :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

I'm so with you on that.

Please take that screaming banshee out Jelena

So pleased that Ana won :bow: She is a joy to watch, so graceful and so lovely. Would be great if she could take the title....:pray:

PS She plays good tennis, too :D

I concur... :)

Would be nice to see someone gwetting their first Grand Slam title also! :D

Great job by Ivanovic. She seemed at first to be about to run away with the first set on form, and Venus looked to be doing the same in the second, but in the end both were closely contested. The first set was a bit dire, with two of the strongest servers on the tour being routinely broken, but this was also due to some fearless returning from both. Unfortunately Venus came to pieces in the breaker, but quickly made amends for it by coming out blazing in the second; it's a testament to Ivanovic that she was able to claw her way back into it by raising her own level in response. She also came up with her biggest serves of the match from double break point down trying to close it out, and I'm sure the Ivanovic of old might have instead faltered. Well done on her very first win over Venus - she hadn't even taken a set prior!

Sharapova is looking a heavy favourite but of course Jankovic and Ivanovic (should she meet the Russian in the final) both went into their quarterfinals as underdogs yet emerged triumphant. Hantuchova looked very focused and determined in her match, so Ivanovic would do well not to underestimate her. She was dealt a drubbing by Hantuchova at the Ordina last year, the Luxembourg final between them went to three sets, and she had to overcome stubborn resistance in a marathon tiebreaker in the second set of their match in Madrid, putting their H2H at 2-1 (interestingly they had never even played before last year).

oh Dani :blink: :( :angry:

Did anyone watch the Ana vs Dani match?

Ana got bagelled in the first set :blink: but came back to win 6-3, 6-4 in the final two. :wub: From reading a brief review, it sounds like Hantuchova choked badly at 4-4 in the decider.

Still, second GS final! :chesire: :chesire: :chesire:

Maria will start as heavy favourite - I hope at the very least Ana can avoid the thrashing all her previous opponents have received.

I agree :( :angry: should have won that in 2. maybe she would have if Ana didnt try and put her off

by calling her the improbable, she didn't have to go and prove me right :rolleyes:

what is it with Dani?? how can you develop mental fortitude this deep in your career?? the girl has such a good game...

So it's The Cheat against Ana in the final.
My hear says Ana to win but I expect The Cheat and her disgusting father will get their hands on another Slam trophy... :rolleyes:

Her dad really is an arsehole, at least Richard Williams is only eccentric- Yuri is psychotic :rolleyes: