One of the most awesome shots I’ve seen all tournament: Sam Stosur‘s inside out forehand while down 2-5 in the second set tiebreak against Kuznetsova.
If you missed it – the shot is at the 60 second mark in this video. Also, check out Dinara Safina’s reaction, while watching the match in the ESPN studios:
Her forehand may be Gonzo, but Sam’s guns are Rafaesque:
Stosur looked great coming out of the second set but couldn’t maintain the momentum. Svetlana Kuznetsova did her own Nadal impression, staying mentally tough enough to close out the match 6-3 in the third.
With Dinara Safina beating Dominika Cibulkova in the other semi, we now have an all Russian final. Dinara leads the head-to-head 8 to 5, but the compatriots have split their past two finals on clay this season. So who’s stepping up on Saturday to do the ultimate Rafa impersonation?:
Even if Sveta loses, she should get a trophy for her press conferences. Today she spoke in depth on a range of topics including Boris Yeltsin, hip hop and American sneaker sponsorships (click here). She also told this amusing story about the first time she played Dinara:
Oh, yeah. This story goes way back. I was like 12 or 13, and Dinara was unbelievable girl. She’s one year younger than me. I had no chance playing against her. I remember I lose to her 6‑1, 6‑Love or something, but it was no chance.
I used to be girl from St. Petersburg, she was Moscow and her mom is huge coach who been coaching her. I mean, she was No. 1, No.2, always great. I don’t even know what number I had.
But then I talk to her. I said, Dinara, do you remember something? She says, Yeah, I remember you coming with rock shirt, because I was big fan of the rock band and with big bottle of Coke to the match.
It’s fun, you know. She tells me back then this is what she remembers. She was very good then, and then her brother was huge. I was coming to Marat, Hey, I know your sister Dinara. Can you give me autograph? You know, it was funny.
It’s quotes like this that make me want ol’ Kuzy to win the French Open. But then I hope Dinara wins it, if only to shut Serena up (footage from yesterday’s press conference showed Williams smirking when she said that Safina deserved the No. 1 ranking.)
I’m really torn. What do you think?
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