Sabine Lisicki powered her way into the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali on Friday.
Lisicki beats Hantuchova, Bartoli retires with injury
Sabine Lisicki powered her way into the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali on Friday.
The powerful German beat Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova 7-5 6-2 to set up a last four clash with Anabel Medina Garrigues, who progressed after France's Marion Bartoli retired with an Achilles injury.
The Number 3 seed served five aces in her victory, including one serve that was clocked at 203 kilometres (120 miles) an hour.
"It's nice when you hit over 200," the German said. "I was just fighting each and every point and enjoying myself. The crowd was very supportive. I'm glad to be back."
In the first match of the evening, Medina Garrigues emerged after Bartoli retired with an Achilles injury in the third set.
Number 1 seed Bartoli won the first set 6-4, and the second went to a nail-biting tie-breaker, which Medina Garrigues won 9-7 before the French ace retired early in the third.
Ankle blocked
Bartoli told the WTA's
official website: "On one of Anabel's drop shots in the second set breaker, I felt like my ankle got blocked and my whole body went forward on it.
"It hurt a few seconds after. When I got to match point I struggled to put any weight on it, then I double faulted, and everything fell apart from there.
"But even if I won match point I don't think I would have been able to play tomorrow."
Serbia's Ana Ivanovic will play Russian Nadia Petrova in Saturday's other semi-final tie in Nusa Dua.
