Safina stuns Sharapova to make French Open quarters
Sharapova out of French Open
Monday, 02, Jun 2008 09:02
Dinara Safina sensationally beat favourite Maria Sharapova in three sets to make it through to the French Open quarter-finals.
The young Russian went into Roland Garros widely expected to make a big impact and the nature with which she saw off her compatriot has only lent further weight to those who view her as the next big thing in women's tennis.
Facing a match point in the second set after losing the opener 6-7, Safina forced a tie break and came through 8-6 to draw level and force a deciding set.
The number one seed then went on to take a seemingly unassailable 5-1 lead in the third set, only for Safina to claw the match back to 5-5 and set up one of the tensest finishes the French crowd has ever witnessed.
Speaking after her victory, the Russian explained: "After my title this season in Berlin, this was one of my best matches and one of my best comebacks.
"I knew I could beat her but I put too much pressure on myself and was way too passive. I was too dependent on her and I was 2-5 down in the second set and facing a match point.
"But I hit a winner on her match point and it changed things. Before I was just running and playing the ball back. But I had to focus on myself and not wait for her mistakes and let her dictate."
Safina will now face another compatriot, Elena Dementieva, in the final eight of the competition.