Famous four line up dream semis
Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal delivered two dream semi-finals at the French Open when all four superstars comfortably won at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
Not one of the quartet dropped a set to confirm two mouth-watering semis: an Ivanovic-Jankovic battle and a Djokovic-Nadal showdown.
First through was Ivanovic, who barely raised a sweat as she brushed aside Patty Schnyder.
The world No.2 and last years runner-up was never really troubled by the tricky left-hander from Switzerland, easing through 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 15 minutes.
Jelena Jankovic ensured Serbia has a women’s singles finalist when she moved through late in the day by beating Spanish qualifier Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2.
Sandwiched inbetween were the two men’s quarter-finals in the bottom half of the draw.
Third seed Djokovic was pushed hard by young Latvian Ernests Gulbis, although never looked like he would actually drop a set during his 7-5, 7-6(3), 7-5 victory.
Second seed and three-time champion Nadal wasted little energy by destroying fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.
The last two held-over women’s fourth round matches were also finished early on Tuesday.
Fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova easily dispatched Belarussian Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-3.
The Russian will go up against Estonian Kaia Kanepi for a place in the last four after she beat Czech Petra Kvitova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
“No-one from Estonia has ever made it to the quarter-finals for women so I am very pleased about that,” said Kanepi.
Wednesday’s order of play will feature top seed Roger Federer against Fernando Gonzalez, and Spain’s David Ferrer taking on Frenchman Gael Monfils.
The winners will face off in the last four on Friday.
Elena Dementieva will battle Dinara Safina, and Kuznetsova faces Kanepi for semi-final places.
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