Sharapova, Hingis reach Pac Life semis

Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | Thursday, March 16, 2006 | Seattle Post-Intelligencer

[theFIRMbss]

Indian Wells, CA (Sports Network) - Third-seeded Maria Sharapova and former champion Martina Hingis scored straight-set quarterfinal wins on Wednesday to reach the semifinals at the $2.1 million Pacific Life Open.

Sharapova, of Russia, easily disposed of Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 6-1, 6-3. Groenefeld, the seven seed, converted just one break points and was broken by Sharapova five times.

Sharapova will next face the 19th-seeded Hingis, who beat 10th-seeded Russian Dinara Safina, 6-3, 6-4 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The former world No. 1 Hingis captured this prestigious hardcourt event back in 1998.

The five-time Grand Slam champion Hingis upset second-seeded American Lindsay Davenport here on Tuesday. Davenport had appeared in the last three finals at Indian Wells, losing all three.

Hingis and Sharapova have already met twice this season, with the "Swiss Miss" prevailing in a semifinal in Tokyo and the Russian coming out on top in a quarterfinal bout in Dubai.

Hingis is 22-6 since rejoining the WTA Tour in January and will appear in her fourth semifinal (1-2) in seven tournaments.

Thursday's quarters will pit top-seeded Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne against 17th-seeded Argentine Gisela Dulko and fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva versus eighth-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic.

The 2006 Indian Wells titlist will pocket $332,000.

[theFIRMbss]

This is their third match.
The concluding chapter of
the trilogy. Now,

here, anything can
happen. Could be Reservoir
Dogs before this match

is over. Today,
at 2 eastern time, it's on
ESPN 2.

---------------------------------------------------

In other news, this
is my 69th thread. So,
here's Anna:

[misterrob]

Where is Maria?

[theFIRMbss]

ping

[yarddog]

Both of them are prettier than Kornikova, or at least as pretty.

[numberonepal]

Both of them are prettier than Kornikova, or at least as pretty.

But neither of them pack the heat in the trunk like Anna.

[theFIRMbss]

>Where is Maria?

Her press agents must
be taking some quiet time ...
At this tournament,

the only photo
at the site's gallery is
of Maria's butt!

[NCC-1701]

"...the only photo at the site's gallery is of Maria's butt!..."

And that is bad because...?

[yarddog]

But neither of them pack the heat in the trunk like Anna.

Well Hingis may not pack a lot of heat in her trunk but she has plenty of it.

[dangus]

Anna? Didn't she used to be someone? Failed SI model or something? What does she have to do with Tennis?

(/hehehe)

[dangus]

I don't even normally care about butts... but we may be witnessing the two best-looking touchis in the the history of sports...

[rlmorel]

ping!!!!!!!!!
ping!!!!!!!!!
SCHWINGGGGGG!

[knews_hound]

WOW

I mean, W O W.

Blood Pressure raising BTTT.

Cheers,

knewshound

http://knewshound.blogspot.com/

[numberonepal]

Nicey. Preeshate it. I see you're a fellow Bootyologist.

[yarddog]

I do like a girl with a nicely shaped rear, but a pretty face gets my attention quicker, and nice personality/character is what makes her really desireable.

[1Old Pro]

I'm glad Hingis is back. I think she needed to get her head back into the game and believe she has. If only John daly could do that.

[kajingawd]

thanks again for the ping boss...


Hingis is really impressive since she's come back.

[theFIRMbss]

It was a good match,
up to near the very end,
when Sharapova

employed some old time
womens' tennis schtick and stopped
play when Martina

was on a roll by
calling a time-out to have
a "blister" taped up.

After the delay,
Hingis lost her serve and then
Maria held hers.

Sharapova looked
good, then she looked tired until
the trainer came out.

It was a good match,
but I wish they'd played it through,
without "injuries" . . .

------------------------------------------------------------

Sharapova Chases First Pacific Life Open Crown

Maria Sharapova defeated Martina Hingis 6-3, 6-3 to reach her first final at the Pacific Life Open and in the process avenged her painful loss to the Swiss Miss in the first Tier 1 event of the year in Tokyo. Sharapova fell to Hingis in the semifinals of last month's Pan Pacific Open, where the Russian was the defending champion.

Sharapova, who also defeated Hingis in the Tier II Dubai event late last month, is chasing her second career Tier I title. The 18-year-old former World No. 1 improved to 15-3 on the season and is chasing her first title of the year.

Sharapova reached her 12th career final in Dubai, losing to Justine Henin-Hardenne, whom she may face in the Pacific Life Open final. Henin-Hardenne, top seed and 2004 champion, plays fourth seed Elena Dementieva.

[VeritatisSplendor]

[ErnBatavia]

I'm in La Quinta, about 4 miles from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden...seeing your post almost (but not quite) makes me want to run down there.

BTW, cheapest seats are 40 zops, and the gooduns run around 200. Tennis ain't a cheap spectator sport, I guess.

[theFIRMbss]

>cheapest seats are 40 zops, and the gooduns run around 200. Tennis ain't a cheap spectator sport

Yeah, but, how many sports give you such cute bellies to watch while they play?