While top-seeded Serena Williams and No. 5 Sara Errani will battle for one spot in the 2013 French Open final, defending champion Maria Sharapova and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka will play for the remaining spot in the championship as both players look to continue strong runs in this year's tournament.
When and Where to Watch Semifinal Match
With an action-packed day of tennis that includes the Mixed Doubles Championship, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka will meet on Thursday, June 6 in the Women's semifinals. Complete coverage of the semifinal match will begin on-line at ESPN3.com beginning at 9:00 a.m., EDT. Television coverage will also start at 9:00 a.m. on ESPN2.
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Road to the Semifinals - Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova has been magnificent this season but her performance through five matches in this year's French Open may be the strongest showing all year.
Sharapova ousted Chinese Taipei's Su-Wie Hsieh 6-2, 6-1 in the first round, setting herself up for a strong run in the tournament. Matched up against Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in the second round, Sharapova continued her dominance, disposing of the 19-year-old in 6-2, 6-4 fashion.
The No. 2 seed took down China's Jie Zheng in consecutive sets in the third round and then ended the run of rising American star and 17-seed Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-3 in the fourth round. Playing at a high level as the tournament continued on, Sharapova had her hands full in the quarterfinals with Jelena Jankovic. Dropping her first set of the tournament 0-6, Sharapova needed a quick turnaround.
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The defending champ showed why she's one of the best in the world, taking the second set 6-4 and closing out the last four games in the third frame after falling behind 3-2. The 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory for Maria was her first career victory after dropping the opening set 0-6. Never doubting her abilities, Sharapova knew she could get back in the match and is extremely happy to be back in the semifinals after her 12th-consecutive win at Roland Garros.
"I felt like I was in the match, and I was," Sharapova said to Sports Illustrated. "Obviously it only gets tougher from here but I'm really happy I'm at this stage again."
The 26-year-old will now prepare for one of the toughest players on the planet in Belarus-native Victoria Azarenka.
Road to the Semifinals - Victoria Azarenka
Advancing to her fourth-straight Grand Slam semifinal, Victoria Azarenka has the capability to take down No. 2 Maria Sharapova when the two meet Thursday at Roland Garros.
Defeating Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-4 in her opening match, Azarenka met Germany's Annika Beck in the second round. Struggling a bit in a 6-4 opening set victory, the 23-year-old put her opponent away with a 6-3 win in the second frame.
Alize Cornet handed Azarenka her first set loss in the opening frame of the third round, dropping the third-ranked star 6-4 but Corent was not able to build off her early success as Azarenka took control of the match instantaneously in the second. Evening the match at one-all after a 6-3 victory, Victoria Azarenka blew through the third frame, advancing to the fourth round with a 6-1 final set win.
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Azarenka played her finest match her next time out, taking down Francesca Schiavone in dominant fashion 6-3, 6-0, setting up what many believed to be a fantastic quarterfinal match-up between herself and No. 12 Maria Kirilenko. With Kirilenko playing well leading up to the quarters, Azarenka was playing at too high of a level for the Russian star to compete.
Taking the first set in a 7-6 (7-3) tiebreaker, Victoria Azarenka closed the match out with a strong 6-2 second set victory, advancing to another major semifinal and setting up a classic showdown between two of the world's best.
Semifinal Wrap-Up
With either No. 1 Serena Williams or No. 5 Sara Errani meeting them in the championship, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka's match could turn out to be the best contest fans will see in this year's French Open.
Be sure to catch all the Thursday action from Roland Garros beginning at 9:00 a.m., EDT. ESPN3.com will anchor coverage of various matches, including both women's semifinal contests while ESPN2 will begin its semi broadcast at 9:00 a.m., EDT.
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