http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2318 June 4, 2008 Roland Garros: Day 12 Preview PARIS, France - Two of this year's French Open semifinalists, Jelena Jankovic and Dinara Safina, are gunning for their first Grand Slam final. Their respective opponents, Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova, might boast greater experience at this stage of a major, but with the No.1 ranking as well as the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen up for grabs, they will face their own set of challenges. Chatrier (4) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. (13) Dinara Safina (RUS) - Kuznetsova leads, 4-3 If Kuznetsova is first to concede her preparation for Paris was uninspired, the momentum the 22-year-old Russian has gathered here is just as undeniable. Ruthless wins over Nadia Petrova and Victoria Azarenka were especially ominous, and while Kaia Kanepi was quick out of the blocks in their quarterfinal, the world No.4 soon overcame her early match nerves. As the 2006 Roland Garros runner-up summarized: "I jumped a little bit higher, and she could not keep up with me then." But although she is justifiably confident, having reached the semis without the loss of a set, the world No.4 is taking nothing for granted against Safina. True, Kuznetsova won the pair's two most recent matches, in the quarters here in 2006 and at Rome last year, in straight sets. A couple of Safina's victories have come on clay, however, and her recent exploits on the surface have been impressive to say the least. "I'm the favorite, but it's going to be very tough match," Kuznetsova said after the semifinal line-up had been set. "Dinara is playing very well on the clay courts. She won Berlin, she won two matches here from match point down. She has too many lives, so I have to be careful with her." With a second Grand Slam title – and the world No.1 ranking that would come with it – at stake, Kuznetsova has every reason to be wary of her fellow Russian. It's not just the fact Safina has registered stunning comebacks from a set and match point down against both Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva. It's the way she has done it: by applying newfound maturity and sheer force of will to suppress some of her more exuberant impulses. More comfortable on the attack, Safina raised her tactical level against both Dementieva and Sharapova by being prepared to, as she puts it, "play soft" and force her opponent to make the moves – and the errors. It helps that she is fitter than ever, and knows she can go the distance against the very best players if need be. "If I still need to play two sets, one hour each, I feel able to do it," Safina said. Of reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal, she added: "It's a breakthrough. I hope just to keep on going. If I did not believe, I would not keep playing." Kuznetsova will have to set the bar very high indeed. (2) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) vs. (3) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) - Ivanovic leads, 5-1 "At least we'll have one Serbian in the final," said Ivanovic after her semifinal appointment with Jankovic had been set. It would be a mistake to interpret the 20-year-old's words as patriotic ambivalence towards the result, however. Proud as she and 23-year-old Jankovic are of their double-act role in Serbia's rise as a tennis power, there is no chance sisterhood will intrude on proceedings today. The country is still searching for its first woman Grand Slam champion, after all – not to mention its first world No.1 of either gender. Both prizes remain on offer at Roland Garros this Saturday, but before that they will be fought over by two of the most fierce competitors on the Tour. Although their matches have always been close, the younger Ivanovic holds the upper hand in the rivalry, taking the last four occasions the pair played. Jankovic, with her more circumspect style, admits she finds Ivanovic's shots hard to read – the younger Serb has the edge on serve, and greater weight of shot overall – but she believes clay offers her best opportunity to turn the tables. "She has some weaknesses in her game, and I really need to play well tactically, play the right shots and attack," Jankovic said. "I move well on clay, and I know how to mix up the game." After a shaky start to her French Open campaign, Jankovic was convincing against two of the game's most dangerous rising stars, Dominika Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwanska. The breakout run of Carla Suárez Navarro was then coolly terminated in the quarters. In between, she flew back to Serbia for treatment to her sore right arm, which underscores her desire to claim the crown. For her part, Ivanovic has negotiated the transition from surprise finalist 12 months ago to bona fide contender. Her draw might have been made easier by the third round upset of Serena Williams, but as she points out, her job is simply to beat the player who presents on the other side of the net. "You just have to go out there and play each match like it's the last match of the tournament," she said. Even No.10 Seed Patty Schnyder was unable to provide much resistance to the onslaught. Of her compatriot Jankovic, a player who also has six career titles to her credit, and almost identical prize money this year, Ivanovic observed: "She's a tough opponent and she defends really well. I'll try to step in and be aggressive and play my game." "I think we're going to be dominating this tennis world soon," Jankovic said. "We are coming to the finish line, a couple more matches left. My dream is to become No.1 in the world, and now I'm very close. Justine is gone, so the opportunity is very big." Ivanovic couldn't have said it better herself. More to watch... Once the singles semifinals have been decided, the last match on Chatrier will be a mixed doubles semi between top-seeded Katarina Srebotnik and Nenad Zimonjic, who face Zheng Jie and Mahesh Bhupathi. The other mixed semi will be played on Lenglen, between No.2 seeds Kveta Peschke and Pavel Vizner, and Victoria Azarenka and Bob Bryan, seeded third. -- --

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