Wozniacki makes "first" tennis history; Safina survives battle with Safarova on Thursday in Madrid

After winning her third round match, No. 9 seed Caroline Wozniacki became the first Dane ever to reach the Top 10 in rankings, while Top seed and rank Dinara Safina didn't come through an easy road to the quarterfinals.

Safina battled against Lucie Safarova, winning the first set in a bagel, losing the second set with a close score, and closing out the match with an easy third set win. The final score was 60 46 63.

"I started like I should have, aggressively. But suddenly after winning the first set I stopped and gave everything to her hands," Safina said. "I´m disappointed how I played the second and third sets. It was 0-2 and luckily she made a couple mistakes that gave me a chance to come back, but that's not really the way I try to win. I can take positives from the first set and hopefully tomorrow I can play two sets like that."

The Russian could face No. 4 seed Jelena Jankovic, who ousted qualifier Elena Vesnina 62 62, in the semis, but first she has to top Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko, who defeated Anna Chakvetadze in a match of unseeded players, 60 26 63.

Wozniacki made history on Thursday, as she beat Alisa Kleybanova to crack the Top 10, with a score of 62 62.

No. 7 seed Victoria Azarenka wasn't in good form in her match though, as she fell to Agnes Szavay, 46 62 62.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Singles - Third Round

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 60 46 63

(4) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (Q) Elena Vesnina (RUS) 62 62

Agnes Szavay (HUN) d. (7) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 46 62 62

(9) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 62 62

Alona Bondarenko (UKR) d. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 60 26 63