Sharapova, Williams lose in Semis

Everybody would have put their money on a Sharapova - Williams final at the JP Morgan Chase Open tournament in Carson.

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova had won a grudge match against fellow Russian and fifth seeded Safina to storm into the semis without dropping a set in the run up to the semis. Seven time grand slam champion also reached the final four, rallying for a 6-7(4),6-1,6-4 victory over fellow American Meghmann Shaughnessy.

The semi-finals line up was Maria Sharapova Vs Elana Dementieva and Serena Williams Vs Jelena Jankovic. Anybody, who follows a bit of tennis, would have anticipated that Sharapova and Williams would come out triumphs. However, both were undone on Saturday and the underdogs, Dementieva and Jankovic find themselves in the finals of the JPMorgan Chase Open.

There was something more than tennis between the American and Serbian clash. Williams carried some extra motivation against Jankovic, who took out her older sister, Venus, in the fourth round at Wimbledon, when Venus accused Jankovic of serving before she was ready.

During a changeover early in the second set, Jankovic flicked a ball on the other side of the net and it hit Williams, who turned sharply and stared at her opponent. Later, Williams drilled an overhead smash down the middle of the court. Jankovic ducked as it sailed over her. Williams received a warning for racket abuse after losing the first set. "She played a really good match and she's an interesting player," Williams said. "She likes some shots and she goes for them and they're very well hit and very well placed."

Both the defeated ladies had a reason for the loss. For Williams, it was her second event after returning from the knee injury that knocked her out for six months. Williams was positive about her form and said “I still believe I'm going in the right direction. I'm definitely doing better than I was my first week back."

Sharapova, on the other hand, was a victim of too much tennis. "I've played nine matches in the last 13 days. That pretty much sums it up," Sharapova said. "I was tired, even in the warm up. There's only so much you can force your body to do."

Cumulative fatigue and lack of fitness of the two players proved to be their waterloo. The sapping heat did not help their cause either.