Errani targets Suarez revenge in Paris

PARIS (AFP) –

Italy’s Sara Errani serves to Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova on January 31, 2013 during the second round of the 21st Paris Open in Paris. Errani can avenge her shock Australian Open first round defeat to Carla Suarez Navarro when she tackles the Spaniard in the Paris Open quarter-finals on Friday.

Italian top seed Sara Errani can avenge her shock Australian Open first round defeat to Carla Suarez Navarro when she tackles the Spaniard in the Paris Open quarter-finals on Friday.

Errani reached the last eight in the French capital without breaking sweat when Slovak opponent Magdalena Rybarikova retired with a viral illness when trailing 4-0 in the first set on Thursday.

“I didn’t know my opponent was sick, but I hope she recovers soon,” Errani said.

“The next match is going to be interesting because I know Carla very well and she beat me at the Australian Open. I like this surface and I just want to keep playing my game, and we will see how it goes tomorrow.”

Suarez Navarro beat eighth-seeded Czech Klara Zakopalova 6-4, 6-3.

Dutch lucky loser Kiki Bertens blasted five aces en route to a 7-5, 6-4 win over fourth-seeded Slovak Dominika Cibulkova as the 21-year-old reached her first quarter-final.

Sixth-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova, twice a runner-up in Paris, beat France’s Alize Cornet 6-2, 4-6 6-2 and faces Bertens for a semi-final spot.

French wildcard Kristina Mladenovic took out Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-4, 6-4.