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In the night’s first semifinal on Center Court, last year’s runner-up Maria Sharapova faces World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva. Following that match will be ’09 Cincinnati champion Jelena Jankovic, who faces the dangerous Andrea Petkovic of Germany.

 

Sharapova, who lost last year’s final in three close sets to World No. 3 Kim Clijsters, is on a mission. The ’08 US Open Champion, who took out 2010 French Open finalist Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals, couldn't have a tougher semifinal opponent. Zvonareva, who won the title in '06 and made the '04 final, holds the most wins for women at the tournament with 14 victories and just five losses.

 

A two-time major finalist, Zvonareva’s looking forward to playing Sharapova tonight. "It's going to be interesting. I'm really excited about the match. I haven't played her in a while. Just looking forward to it," she said.

 

With Zvonareva and Sharapova into the semis, there will be a Russian finalist in Cincinnati for the seventh time in eight years.

 

In the second women’s match tonight, Jankovic plays Petkovic, who defeated her twice this year at Stuttgart and Miami with both matches decided in three sets.

 

About playing Jankovic in the next round, the German said, "Well, I played against Jelena two times this season, and it was two times very good matches on a high level, but also very tough matches because there were long rallies and it was very tough."

 

Jankovic thoughts on the semifinal mirrored her opponents. "Yes, it's going to be a tough match. She's playing very well in this moment. I just want to continue to play my tennis. I feel good as well. It's going to be hopefully a good match, so the best one will win."