EASTBOURNE:
France’s Marion Bartoli reached the second grasscourt final of her career Saturday as she thrashed Australian Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-1. The sixth-seeded winner was scheduled to play Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova, who advanced when Slovak opponent Daniela Hantuchova retired with injury trailing 7-6, 4-2.
The men’s semi-final ties saw Andreas Seppi beat Igor Kunitsyn 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, while Janko Tipseravic thrashed Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-4.
Seventh-seed Stosur felt the poor weather conditions destroyed her concentration, leading to her loss. “I thought when I played Vera it was the worst, but I think today was even worse,” said Stosur. “It definitely wasn’t easy at all.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2011.