Q. Okay. Second one: Is why is that success coming so late for you?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Why late? I think everybody are different. Could be late for you, could be good for you. I think it's my time now. Maybe before I wasn't ready.
Maybe before I had the chance I didn't catch, so I think now I have just to live and to keep going to work like I did for many years.
Q. What are your chances for the final? You think you can win the final on Saturday?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I don't know. I really don't know, but I'm really happy to be here. I will go on the court and I will fight at the best that I will do it, that I can do.
Now is time to relax, and Saturday will be the time to put everything that I work until now.
"I'm having a total nightmare..."
And the upsets continued today at Roland Garros with Sam Stosur shocking top seed Serena Williams 6-2, 6-7 (2), 8-6 and saving a match point in the quarterfinals two days after knocking off 4-time champ Justine Henin. The Aussie served well, particularly with her kick serve out to ReRe's backhand on the ad side, and moved fluidly allowing her to drive those big forehands to all parts of the court. She hit 30 winners against 24 errors, 6 aces and won 58% of the points when she had to thrown down a second delivery.
She'll face Jelena Jankovic, who defeated Yaroslava Shvedova 7-5, 6-4, for a spot in Saturday's ladies' final.
The seventh seed was asked whether she felt it was her time to break through and win a major:
Q. Do you feel you can win the tournament here?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, yeah. I mean, I think I've got as good a chance as anyone. I'm in the semis now; I played two great matches. Hopefully they're both gonna help me for tomorrow's match.
Q. You've obviously been able to fight it out not only against Justine, but now Serena. How's your belief right now?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: As good as it's ever been. Two great matches back to back for me, which is fantastic. Yeah, it's not over yet. Now I'm in the semis, and I want to definitely try and keep going. I made it to this point last year. If I can try and go another set further, then that would be great.
Q. Two years in a row you beat the title holder. How it feels to be a giant killer?
ROBIN SODERLING: Hey, of course it's nice to beat the world No. 1 two years in a row on the center court. I think both times I play really good tennis. I think it's a great feeling.
Q. What about the statistics and now finally winning Federer?
ROBIN SODERLING: Well, of course I didn't think about it that much. As I said, I think even though I lost so many times, I always have a chance to win. I came close a couple of times before, and I really feel like one or two times I actually been a little bit unlucky.
With a little bit of lucky I could have won before. Now I'm here finally with a win, and it's great.
Q. Are you still based in London?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No.
Q. Why did you leave?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Eh, daddy, mommy. They say, Come back home. I say, No. They say, Yes. At the end they won.
Q. Who will win next match with Elena Dementieva?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Who will win between me and her?
Q. Yes.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Io (Me.) (laughter.)
Will be very interesting match. I know her. I think she know me. We grow up a little bit together. We played many tournaments together. I respect her. She's a great athlete. You know how she is, Elena. But will be good match. We are good athletes physically and mentally strong. I think who going to win really the best one Thursday.
Q. Do you think it will be easy or difficult to stay focused for the next match for you?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Oh, yes. Always. For me, is always difficult to stay focused. It's difficult. But now that I am focused, I am enjoying more. Now I don't know, because when I am in the court, I can't tell you how will be.
But I look forward. I am curious to know how I can feel Thursday. Very curious. (laughter.)
Q. Your moment of triumph of was so special. Your face was filled with joy. I know it's difficult, but can you try and talk about emotion, the role of emotion and your play, your feeling at that moment?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Heart attack.
Q. Hard to put in words, is what I meant to say.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Maybe I can tell you in Italian; is more easy.
Q. In Italian is fine.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, that's okay. I think in that moment you remember many things from when you are when you were young. Is special because is your space, is your time, is your opportunity. I felt alone, but with all the love around me is bo. (I don't know.) It's like if I ask you, How did you feel when you married? You say, It's not easy to explain.
Is not enough?
Q. More than enough.
Q. Have you ever played such a big hitter as Soderling today?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes.
Q. Who?
ROGER FEDERER: Del Potro. You've forgotten him because he's injured.
Q. What's the feeling when you have such a powerful ball in your racquet?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it can be pleasant and unpleasant because you have less to do and you can't play your game, you can't impose your game.
As for me, I'm strong on both sides if I have to attack and if I have to defend and take the speed of the other player. That's why I had such a good record against him. So not too much of a problem for me, but today he played very well. He was impressive.
Q. Am I wrong if I say that you are in semifinal without playing your best tennis?
ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Well, it's not about, you know, showing your best tennis. It's about winning matches. Once again, in this kind of weather conditions, you really have to, you know, push yourself very hard and, you know, stay positive, try to win no matter what. I think I had some good tennis here and there, but it was difficult.
Q. When I see your serve, you have done a great evolution. The double faults were there, but you are serving much better. Did you do something special or you change the movement or what? Because you're serving great.
ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Thank you. First time I hear this (laughter.) in my whole career. Well, I think with my serve it's all about rhythm. When I'm able to give the right rhythm on the match, it goes well.
I'm really working a lot on my serve. You know, it's not the biggest weapon in my game, but I think I've done a good work. It is a little bit better now, so I'm still I keep working on it, but it's a big advantage when you are feeling more comfortable in your service game. It's just a different attitude when you're playing.
Q. Is there an area of your game that you have worked on specifically this year? Anything that you would pinpoint that's been an improvement for you?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, yeah. I mean, it's gonna be couple of things. The first one, which is not only for this year, that's my movement on the court. You know, because with my tall and everything, my well, big body, it's really tough to move well on the court, and that was the thing what I needs to improve. So far it looks like that it works, and it was a good job made with my coach.
The other thing, of course, I mean, I was kind of guy who just liked to play really aggressive, but sometimes I was maybe too much, you know, just go too much for every shot. Then you just come with the mistakes, and that's not the way of the modern tennis. I still need to play really aggressive but with more control, and, you know, be a little bit patient on the court. That's what it is.
But, yeah, it's gonna be some more other things, but this one I would say it's me.
[Photo(s): Getty Images]
"This won't taste so good later."
Robin Soderling gained revenge for his loss in the Roland Garros final last year in a HUGE way when he out-hit and out-played defending champion Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in their quarterfinal match today. The Swede took control of points with big serves, almost bigger returns and blazing groundies that took the 16-time Grand Slammer out of his game.
The Swede notched his first win over the top seed in 13 attempts and ended Fed's ridiculous record of 23 straight Grand Slam semifinal appearances. Sod also became the first baller to defeat the title holder in consecutive years since Mats Wilander defeated Yannick Noah in 1984 and Ivan Lendl in 1985; he upset Rafael Nadal, who was the 4-time defending champ, in the fourth round last year.
As for Fed he could lose his No.1 ranking if Rafa wins the title on Sunday.
Sod was asked about finally snapping the losing streak to the Swiss in his post-match presser:
Q. Once Vitas Gerulaitis said nobody can beat Gerulaitis 17 times in a row. What about you? And is this a better satisfaction than to beat Nadal, the same thing? What is the difference? Are you more confident now than you were maybe one year ago?Sod will next face Tomas Berdych who crushed Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals.
ROBIN SODERLING: Well, it's a tough question. You know, I think they're both big wins, of course. They were both No. 1s. They're different players, and I'm really happy that I showed that I can beat them both.
But again, you know, I don't think about it that much. Of course I lost a lot of times, so it's a great feeling to finally end that streak.
But still, you know, I don't think about who I beat. You know, what matters is that I won and that I won quarterfinals in a Grand Slam and I get the opportunity to play semifinals in two days, which is great.
This time Sam Stosur made good against Justine Henin and picked a huge moment to do it.
The Aussie lost a three set tussle to the 7-time Grand Slammer in Stuttgart recently but kept herself calm and composed down the stretch of the pair's fourth round match at Roland Garros today shocking the 4-time champ 2-6, 6-1, 6-4. Her high-kicking second serve made a big difference in the match; she won 70% of the points when she had to throw in a second delivery compared to 48% for the Belgian. Sammie will face an arguably tougher test when she battles an in-form Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.
It seems from all outward appearances that Sammie's game is tailor-made for the clay: the exquisite kick serve, the big forehand she can hit either inside out or in with powerful spin and world-class skills at the net to close out points. Add to that her new-found patience and consistency and she'll be a tough road block on ReRe's path to a 13th major title - and the second leg of the Calendar Slam.
As for Justine she clearly needs more time and matches to find the form that took her to 7 Grand Slam titles. Even on her best surface the cracks in her game, particularly the serve, came to the fore. Plus, where did all of her variety go? Bring it back.
Nicolas Almagro caused another upset, though not quite as monumental, when he took out compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in their fourth round match. Nando had been on a tear during the lead up tourneys winning at Barcelona, making the finals at Monte Carlo + Nice and the semifinals in Rome. But Nico played aggressively throughout hitting 40 winners compared to Nando's 22, making 20 of 24 net approaches and converting 6 of 12 break chances.
Great win for Nico but he'll face the biggest test of 'em all if he wants to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal: Rafael Nadal. May the Force (and some luck) be with you young Almagro.
[Photo(s): Getty Images]
"This hurts so good."
