Sport
French Open 2013: Serena Williams, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advance to semi-finals
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hits a return to Roger Federer at their quarterfinal match of the French Open, Tuesday June 4, 2013. PHOTO/Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
(AP) – Serena Williams came from behind in the third set Tuesday and advanced to the French Open semifinals for the first time since 2003 when she defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Against Kuznetsova, Williams overcame an inconsistent serve, erratic groundstrokes and a 2-love deficit in the final set, winning five consecutive games and then closing out the victory with a forehand winner and a scream.
It was the first real test of the tournament for Williams, she extended her career-best winning streak to 29 consecutive matches.
“I’m very happy to have won this quarterfinal, because the whole night I was afraid of my quarterfinal match,” she told the crowd in French. “It was a very tough match today, but it’s good for me because, I don’t know, but it’s very good. I am exhausted.”
Williams is the first American woman to reach the French Open semifinals since Jennifer Capriati in 2004. Her opponent Thursday will be 2012 runner-up Sara Errani, who advanced by beating No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).
On the men’s side, French favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ousted 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
Tsonga becomes the first Frenchman to reach the semifinals since Gael Monfils in 2008. His opponent Friday will be No. 4-seeded David Ferrer, who beat fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-2, 6-1, 6-1.
