Sugiyama Breaks Through to Semifinals

Japan’s Ai Sugiyama had reached the Acura Classic quarterfinals on four previous occasions but failed to advance to the semifinals each time.

All of that changed Friday morning on Stadium Court at the La Costa Resort and Spa as the unseeded Sugiyama blew past 15-year-old Sesil Karatantcheva of Bulgaria, 6-1, 6-2.

Sugiyama played nearly perfect tennis in winning the first set in 23 minutes as she committed only three unforced errors and lost only two points on her serve. She won the last ten points of the set.

Karatantcheva was kept on the run for most of the match as Sugiyama, who was playing with a heavily taped left thigh, dictated play from the baseline.

Sugiyama used two service breaks to take a 5-1 lead in the second set and attempted to serve out the match.

In one of the few highlights of the day for Karatantcheva, the Bulgarian broke Sugiyama with a blazing backhand down the line passing shot on break point.

Karatantcheva’s success was short-lived as she dropped serve to end the match in one-hour and six-minutes. On match point she put a cross court forehand into the net.

“Reaching the semis here is special for me,” Sugiyama said. “I don’t know why, but this place gives me a lot of confidence. I’m having fun again. I’m having a great time here.”

In the semifinals, Sugiyama will face the winner of the Anna Chakvetadze / Akiko Morigami quarterfinal match.

• Sugiyama is ranked 38 in the world.
• Sugiyama is playing in her 11th Acura Classic.
• Sugiyama improves her 2005 match record to 16-18.
• This was the first head-to-head meeting between the two players.
• Karatantcheva will celebrate her 16th birthday on Monday, Aug. 8.
• Karatantcheva is ranked 49 in the world.
• Karatantcheva was making her Acura Classic debut this week.
• Karatantcheva’s 2005 match record is now 18-8.

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