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Oprandi shocks Rezai in Palermo


By RohitSharma (TennisEarth.com), Submitted On

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Italians Romina Oprandi and Flavia Pennetta kept the hopes of an all-Italian final alive with contrasting wins over their respective opponents.

Unseeded Italian Romina Oprandi continued her dream run at the home tournament with an upset win over Madrid champion Aravane Rezai to enter the semifinals of the XXIII Internazionali Femminili Di Tennis Di Palermo, a WTA event being played in the picturesque Palermo in Italy.

Oprandi came through a tight first set to bagel an in-form Frenchwoman in the second and complete the 7-5, 6-0 victory.  This is Oprandi's first ever Sony Ericsson WTA tour semifinal.

"I'm very happy because this is my first semifinal," Oprandi said. "Today's match wasn't easy. This is my best win since I beat Zvonareva four years ago. I hope to continue this way. I feel very good about my tennis right now."

She now meets Estonian and Wimbledon quarterfinalist Kaia Kanepi, who crushed another Italian in the draw, Sara Errani with a 6-2, 6-2 scoreline.

"I've made a lot of progress on clay and today I played some very good tennis," Kanepi said. "Sara wasn't easy to play against but I was always leading."

Meanwhile, Pennetta kept the hopes of an all-Italian final alive with a 6-4, 6-2 demolition of Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives. She meets German Julia Goerges, who got the better of American veteran Jill Craybas 6-2, 6-4.

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US Open, Men Singles  QF
01:00
QF
Rafael Nadal (ESP) Winner 3 7 6 6
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 0 5 3 4
Nadal - Verdasco    7 - 5    6 - 3    6 - 4   
Served By: R Nadal Won By: Nadal
Game IN, Winner: Nadal!!! Verdasco backhand catches the net in the middle. Nadal raises his arms up in the air to celebrate the victory !
40-15   IN, Winner: Nadal!!! Verdasco backhand finds way into the net. 2 match points for Nadal
30-15   IN, Winner: Nadal!!! Powerful serve, Verdasco is unable to control it
15-15   IN, Winner: Verdasco!!! Rally, Nadal charges towards the net and volleys. Verdasco passes him with superb lob.
15-0   IN, Winner: Nadal!!! Verdasco backhand misses the court
Nadal - Verdasco    7 - 5    6 - 3    5 - 4   
Served By: F Verdasco Won By: Verdasco
Game ACE, Winner: Verdasco!!! Powerful serve, return from Nadal lands outside the court
40-15   ACE, Winner: Verdasco!!! ACE! F Verdasco brings out big serve
30-15   IN, Winner: Verdasco!!! Nadal backhand drifts outside the court
15-15   IN, Winner: Verdasco!!! Verdasco serves a slice one ,follows it and hits a off-forehand winner
0-15   IN, Winner: Nadal!!! Nadal returns, races to the net . Verdasco forehand passing shot goes straight into the nets.
Nadal - Verdasco    7 - 5    6 - 3    5 - 3   
Served By: R Nadal Won By: Nadal
Game IN, Winner: Nadal!!! Nadal stuns Verdasco with superb backhand in the rally
40-0   IN, Winner: Nadal!!! Verdasco backhand jumps the baseline
30-0   IN, Winner: Nadal!!! Nadal moves Verdasco around the court and outfoxes Verdasco with a drop-shot
15-0   IN, Winner: Nadal!!! Good serve aimed at T, Verdasco only reaches to it
Nadal - Verdasco    7 - 5    6 - 3    4 - 3   
Served By: F Verdasco Won By: Verdasco
Game ACE, Winner: Verdasco!!! F Verdasco aims ace down the T
40-15   IN, Winner: Verdasco!!! Verdasco rushes to the net and punches away a volley