TOKYO: World No.1 Victoria Azarenka pulled out of the Pan Pacific Open citing chronic fatigue while Maria Sharapova was stunned by Samantha Stosur as the event lost its top two seeds yesterday.
French Open champion Sharapova, Tokyo winner in 2005 and 2009, was upset by Australian Stosur 6-4, 7-6 in a quarterfinal filled with drama and high-quality tennis.
Azarenka withdrew before her quarterfinal with German Angelique Kerber, having come into the WTA premier five event complaining of health issues.
The Belarusian, who won this year’s Australian Open and reached the final of the US Open earlier this month, struggled to complete her third round match the previous day.
“Before the tournament I wasn’t feeling very good,” said Azarenka, who had her blood pressure checked during Wednesday’s win over Roberta Vinci.
“I had low energy. I wasn’t myself. It wasn’t possible today. Maybe it was tiredness from the whole season. I need to have some tests. It’s a little bit unknown what it is.” Stosur next faces Russian Nadia Petrova, who ousted sixth seed Sara Errani 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 after battling back from a set and 4-1 down against her Italian opponent.
Eighth seed Stosur had won just one of her previous 11 meetings with Sharapova but seized the initiative by taking the first set when the Russian blasted a backhand long.
The Australian was taken to a tiebreak in the second after leading 5-3 but won a nail-biter 12-10 on her fifth match point after a wild forehand from Sharapova.
“When you don’t take a few (chances) in a row you don’t know what’s going to happen,” said 2011 US Open champion Stosur. “I just kept trying to go for it and thankfully it paid off.” Sharapova was philosophical in defeat.
“She had the chance to win the match easily but I made it tough for her,” said the London Olympic silver medalist. “I had my fair share of chances in the tiebreak.
“One point here, one point there — it just didn’t go my way. I can play a lot better tennis than I have this week.” Following her walkover, fifth seed Kerber will face defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals of the hardcourt event.
Pole Radwanska overpowered 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3 in the day’s last quarterfinal.
Azarenka pulls out; Sharapova upset in Tokyo
Azarenka pulls out; Sharapova upset in Tokyo
$1.5m Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Cup draws strong field
- Nasser Mutlaq saddles 4 for Friday feature at King Abdulaziz Racecourse
- Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah top rated of 11 runners
RIYADH: Trainer Nasser Mutlaq will saddle four runners in this year’s $1.5 million (SR5.6 million) Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Cup, which takes place on Friday at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah, ridden by Adel Alfouraidi, is the pick of Mutlaq’s entries for the Group 1 event, which is the jewel in the crown of the two-day Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Arabian Horse Festival.
Despite having run only six times, the 6-year-old has four wins and is top-rated of the 11 runners for the 1,800 meter feature.
Last time out he beat the reopposing French-trained Al Kaaser by four lengths in the G3 Imam Turki bin Abdullah Sword on Dec. 27. Turki Al-Khalediah II and Mutwakel Alkhalediah, which finished third and fourth in that race, and recent winner Mostabsil Al-Khalediah complete the Mutlaq quartet.
Another French raider is Moshrif, trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, which chased home Tilal AI Khalediah in the G1 Al-Mneefah Cup during last year’s Saudi Cup weekend.
Mutlaq will also be well represented in Friday’s $300,000 Princess Mounira Bint Abdulaziz Bin Musaed Bin Jalawi Cup over 1,600 meters, saddling three of the eight runners.
His trio comprises Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah, which was second to Tilal AI-Khalediah in Taif in September, Mubarizat Alkhalediah and Maitha Al Khalediah. France will be represented by the Elizabeth Bernard-trained Algheed.
Thursday’s feature is the Group 2 $500,000 Al Khalediah Stable International Cup over 1,600 meters, in which Nawahel Alkhalediah and Nijinski Al Maury stand out in a field of eight after finishing sixth and seventh respectively behind Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah last month.
Before that will be the inaugural running of the $100,000 Mutlaq bin Moshrif Cup, staged in honor of Nasser Mutlaq’s father, who died last year.
Saturday’s all-thoroughbred card features the 2,400 meter $40,000 Al-Jouf Region Governorate Cup which has a full field of 20 declared and includes two runners for the White Stable of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, headed by jockey Camilio Ospina’s course and distance winner Almaqam.
Also on the card is the $40,000 Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture Cup over 1,600 meters for fillies and mares. The British-trained Dance Desire for the Ricardo Ferreira, Thamer Aldaihani, Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah combination is top rated.
