Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark

Top remaining seed, Princess Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark is doing her best to uphold the integrity of tennis royalty at Indian Wells. It is full time job, which some of the top seeds and former world number ones, now struggling beauty queens, do not understand. The 19-year old has now finished two consecutive tight matches with convincing third set wins.

The first was against fourth round opponent, tough Nadia Petrova. The most recent was her quarterfinal close against tenacious Zheng Jie of China on Wednesday. As a result of her 2 hour 18 minute 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 win over China’s rising star, Wozniacki will reach her first semifinal of the year, not bad for a pretty 19-year old. Right Maria? Right Ana?

Princess Caroline, a finalist at the U.S. Open last year and winner of 67 tour matches, fought off four break point opportunities in the final set and won three of her five break chances.

Awaiting the Princess in the semis will be 5th seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. The Pole turned away another Russian glamour girl, steady competitor, 4th seeded Elena Dementieva in their quarterfinal pairing. At 4-4, 0-30 in the first set, Aggie ran off eight straight points to surprise Elena, who lost the match by failing to convert any of her five break point chances in the second set (6-3).

Lately, Dementieva has suffered puzzling streaks of poor serving and missed opportunities. Long known as one of the tour’s truly elegant and consistent players, her star has become tarnished of late.

Aggie has cruised into the semis without losing a set. Wozniacki has struggled to regain last season’s form, but has held it together this week. She is tourney tested. Radwanska and Wozniacki have split their two previous meetings.

The favorite in the upper bracket, Samantha Stosur will be in action today trying to claim a semifinal berth for the first time this season. The Aussie will face Maria Santines Martinez. Surprising sixth seed Jalena Jankovic will go against the even more surprising 23rd seed Ana Kleybanova in the other quarter. Who knows?

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