French Open: Two heavyweights Ivanovic & Williams in action for ladies semis

With the tennis French Open nearing the latter stages, Coral take a look at the ladies semi-finals at Roland Garros.

Ana Ivanovic v Lucie Safarova
Serbian tennis star and world number seven rank Ivanovic hasn’t won the French Open since 2008 though must first get through what is likely to be a tough semi-final against Safarova.

The latter boasts a better head-to-head advantage, which stands at 5-3 in Safarova’s favour, with the Czech star odds-on at 8/11 with Coral to win.

Having beaten Garbine Muguruza and Maria Sharapova, Ivanovic will be wary of the threat that Safarova boasts, though following her win over the former she could hardly contain her excitement at her next opponent.

“It’s hard to explain my feelings….wow! I am excited and ready to face Ana,” Safarova said.

Having won in straight sets against Muguruza, Safarova admitted afterwards just how tough it was, though is 7/4 to win 2-0 again.

“It was a battle,” Safarova said. “In the first set the tiebreak was very close and we had some great rallies. I had an early break and lost it in the second, and managed to keep it together and played strong.”

Ivanovic, meanwhile, had to battle through windy conditions to beat her opponent Elina Svitolina in straight sets though was modest to the hilt afterwards.

“Today was a very, very tough match, even though the score doesn’t indicate that,” she said.

“It was tough conditions, obviously for both of us. It was very, very gusty. I really tried to just execute my game plan and tried to move my feet more, because in windy conditions that’s what you have to do.”

Serena Williams v Timea Bacsinszky
In the second semi-final, 2013 French Open winner, Williams will take to the court as 1/6 odds-on favourite against Bacsinszky (4/1 to win) and after beating Sara Errani, she said she knew exactly what she had to do to win the match.

“I knew today I gotta be focused. Now my serve is feeling a little better and hit my big serves – I’ve missed it a lot. I don’t want to stress myself out – I’m going to go home and relax. Whatever happens I’m happy to have got this far.”