Family Circle Cup Day 5 Results: Lucie Safarova Upsets; Sam Stosur Knocks Venus Williams Out

On the short list of biggest upsets of the week, add Lucie Safarova’s name.

The world No. 26 beat the No. 4 seed Vera Zvonareva in straight sets. Safarova defeated the two-time Charleston champion 6-3, 6-3.

While a seed beating a wildcard isn’t considered an upset, Sam Stosur’s defeat of Venus Williams in the quarterfinals was a battle. Stosur went three sets to keep Venus Williams from meeting her sister Serena in a WIlliams semifinal duel. The final score was 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

All that after she completed a match earlier in the day that was rain delayed from Day 4. That match also went three sets. Stosur showed up on court against Venus with just two hours of rest.

From the WTA:

“I don’t think it was the end of the world to get out there and play this morning,” Stosur said after everything. “Today was very different than what we’ve been playing in, so it was good to get used to the conditions. I would have preferred not to play two three set matches, but nevertheless, I’m happy to be through.”

Now, Stosur will face No. 5 seed Serena Williams in the semifinal. Serena made it into the second-to-last round in Charleston after just five games in her quarterfinal match when No. 6 seed Sabine Lisicki rolled her ankle at the baseline, stood up crying and retired. Serena showed good sportsmanship giving Lisicki a hug and even bringing her tissues.

“I just told her it would be all right,” Williams recalled. “I’m in an emotional time in my life, so I told her, ‘Don’t cry, because you’re going to make me cry,’ and I was like, my eyes are getting watery. I’m always crying. But it’s not the French Open now. At least it happened earlier and you can recover. It’s okay. I’ve been through those injuries, and it sucks. It really, really sucks.”