Elena Vesnina denied Venus Williams another great escape, beating the seven-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 Thursday to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells. As Williams shook off a lethargic start and began to apply some pressure, Vesnina kept her poise, finishing off the contest on her fourth match point after fending off six break points in the final game.
She'll play Kristina Mladenovic for a place in the final after the French player's 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 victory over former world number one Caroline Wozniacki. "When I was up three-love in the first set she was missing some easy shots," Vesnina said of Williams. "She looked tired and slow on the court. Then, all of a sudden, she started moving around, hitting great shots, winners from all over the place.
"I kind of lost my rhythm, because I didn't know what to expect." After the match Williams acknowledged some physical "issues" that had troubled her throughout the tournament, although she declined to elaborate. "I had some issues," said the American, who played Thursday with one thigh bandaged, but without the right arm bandage she sported in previous rounds.
"It's great to know that I can try to play through what I'm going through and be very competitive," she said. "I will try my best to be closer to 100 percent in the next tournament." Whatever her troubles, when Williams levelled the match at a set apiece, Vesnina couldn't help recalling that the American had saved three match points in her second-round victory over Jelena Jankovic.
"I was like, 'Uh-Oh, it's coming back again. I'm going to be another victim of Venus," Vesnina said. Williams, who ended a 15-year boycott of the event last year but lost her opening match, was in pursuit of a first Indian Wells title.
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