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MADRID -- Serena Williams overcame a lethargic start to upsetfellow former world number one Caroline Wozniacki at the MadridOpen on Thursday and set up a quarterfinal meeting with old foeMaria Sharapova. The ninth seed powered to a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the Dane,clubbing a blistering 43 winners to reach the last eight in theSpanish capital for the first time. I had a really slow start today, I don't know why, Williamstold a news conference. I was just a little sluggish, mentally I was fighting somedemons, maybe. The first set was not me at all. I haven't been playing like thatand I just thought I got do to better than this and I started justto try to play my game. Wozniacki, who beat Williams for the first time in four attempts atthe Sony Ericsson Open in Miami earlier this year, started stronglybut lost control of the match in the second set. The American broke Wozniacki's first service game in the third setand, with the sliding roof open over the sun-drenched ManoloSantana centre court, tightened her grip. The 2009 runner-up in Madrid saved a first match point with afizzing crosscourt shot but was helpless at the second as Williamswrong-footed her with another powerful drive. The controversial, blue clay surface, however, did not seem to be aproblem for Williams. This clay is a little slippery, she added. I feel a littlebit like an ice-skater out here, but actually I can ice-skate soit's not a bad thing. I think I can play on any court. Upper Hand Williams will meet second-seed Sharapova, another former numberone, who progressed without hitting a shot in the morning afterunseeded Czech Lucie Safarova pulled out with a gastro-intestinalillness. Current number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, losing finalist in2011, plays China's Li Na on Friday after both went through to thelast eight on Wednesday. She is doing really well, Williams said of Sharapova, whom shehas beaten in their last six meetings. She does have the upper hand going into tomorrow's match, she hasthe momentum after winning (in Stuttgart) last month. So I'm justgoing out there with nothing to lose. Wozniacki, still seeking her first title in 2012, had fewcomplaints at the result. Williams is a great opponent but to be honest I am just happythat my foot's feeling better, you know I hurt it in the firstmatch, she said. I think I can take a lot of confidence from this match leadinginto the French Open, which is coming up soon. The winner between Williams and Sharapova will meet eitherfifth-seed Samantha Stosur or Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka in thesemifinals. The 26-year-old Hradecka, who stunned third-seed Petra Kvitova inthe second round, beat Russia's Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 7-6 toreach the last eight. Fourth-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska, who climbed to world numberthree this week, won 7-6, 6-4 against Italy's Roberta Vinci andwill meet American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko, a 6-1, 6-7, 6-3victor over Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues. I am an expert from 100woolfelt.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China 3mm Wool Felt , Industrial Wool Felt, Wool Felt Sheets,and more.
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