Schmeichel P23 reveals ‘relief’ SPORTS 2424 Thursday, March 16, 2017 Vesnina books a quarter final clash with No. 1 in seven time Grand Slam Champion Venus Williams Angelique waiting Kerber of Germany plays a smash against Kerber Elena Vesnina ousted Indian Wells Not Kerber’s day Williams in Miami as ngelique Kerber won’t Vesnina went up a quick break she returned to the top celebrate her return to world and never trailed. She broke 10 in the world for the numberA one with an Indian Wells Kerber five times, and managed first time since 2010. title after a shock fourth-round to stifle a would-be rally that “I just fell in love with the exit Tuesday at the hands of Elena saw the German close the gap game again,” said Kuznetsova, Vesnina. from 4-1 to 4-3 in the second who next faces compatriot Russia’s 14th-seeded Vesnina set. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who toppled the second-seeded “I was a little nervous at the end toppled fifth-seeded Slovak German 6-3, 6-3 to book a of the match,” Vesnina said. “So Dominika Cibulkova quarter-final clash with seven- I’m really happy that I closed that 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. time Grand Slam champion Venus match because this win means a Pavlyuchenkova Williams. lot to me.” belted 35 winners Williams battled back from a Kerber, winner of the Australian as she kept break down in the final set to beat and US Opens last year, had the normally Chinese qualifier Peng Shuai 3-6, struggled past 62nd-ranked aggressive 6-1, 6-3. Pauline Parmentier in the previous Cibulkova in “(I) wasn’t really sure how it was round and said she never found her check, avenging a going to turn out today,” Williams rhythm against Vesnina. three-set loss to the said. “It was not my day,” she said. “I Slovak in Doha. “There were some up-and- was doing a lot of mistakes. I was “I always like downs and errors. It was so not moving, actually, good. But it’s to get revenges,” frustrating. But I feel like I got happened. I mean, she played from Pavlyuchenkova my focus more in that second set the beginning until the end good said. and towards the end of the third, tennis, and she was aggressive. So Third-seeded Czech Karolina because I’m just a competitor. So she took the game in her hands.” Pliskova booked her quarter- if things get closer, then I think Eighth-seeded Russian Svetlana final berth with an abbreviated my better tennis is going to Kuznetsova sped past Caroline appearance under the hot desert come.” Garcia 6-1, 6-4 to lead the way into sun. Vesnina, the 14th seed, notched the quarters. She was leading Timea her first career victory over a top- Kuznetsova is in the last eight in Bacsinszky 5-1 when the Swiss three player. Kerber was the top- the California desert for the first player retired with a left wrist ranked player in the draw, and time since reaching back-to-back injury. will return to number one in the finals in 2007 and 2008. Pliskova next faces seventh- Elena Vesnina of Russia world on Monday despite the The 31-year-old Russian, owner seeded French Open champion celebrates to the crowd defeat thanks to Serena Williams’ of two Grand Slam singles titles, Garbine Muguruza, who after her straight sets vic- injury withdrawal from the enjoyed a resurgence in 2016, downed 10th-seeded Ukrainian tory against Angelique event. winning two titles and upsetting Elina Svitolina 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, Kerber of Germany world number one Serena 6-0. (AFP) Hon.Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Responsible Editor Mahmood AI Mahmood | Managing Editor Soman Baby | Managing Director P. Unnikrishnan | Adviser Med Jones Advt : Strategic Publicity & Advertising Co.W.L.L | Tel: 17270710, Fax17256470, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 17579911, Fax17250150, Email: [email protected] Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing | Subscription & circulation: Tel: 38444698/17579877/Fax17250150, Email:[email protected] | Website: www.dt.bh.