Bouchard, Petkovic Set Semifinal Showdown

A year ago she was a qualifier ranked outside the top 100, this year a first-time semifinalist.

 

That’s the trajectory of 20-year-old Genie Bouchard‘s Volvo Car Open career, having been the world No. 114 last April and this week beating former No. 1s and Charleston winners Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic.

 

MORE: Genie’s Twitter Q&A | Petko’s Charleston Adventure | Schedule of Play | Draws

 

Bouchard downed Jankovic, who won here in 2007, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Friday afternoon to take her place in the final four.

 

The world No. 20 will meet Andrea Petkovic, the No. 40 player who is seeded 14th here and won again on Friday, beating Lucie Safarova 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.

 

Petkovic’s match was an up-and-down affair, the German seeming to check out in set two before running away with the decider. She had won 24 of 25 games in her last two matches (a double bagel and a 6-1, 6-0 win), but needed three sets to reach the semis.

 

Later in the afternoon, qualifier Belinda Bencic stunned No. 3 seed Sara Errani 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to win her sixth match of the week after coming through qualifying last weekend. The Swiss player, just 17, has gained steam in her run, beating No. 10 Maria Kirilenko in the first round before registering her upset over the Italian.

 

Bencic will take on Jana Cepelova, the Slovakian who stunned Serena Williams in the second round of the Cup earlier in the week. Cepelova had no problem dismissing countrywoman Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-1 in the night match on Billie Jean King Stadium Court.

 

Earlier, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Yaroslava Shvedova beat Marina Erakovic and Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2, 6-1 in doubles to earn a spot in the semifinals, as well.