MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Russia's Vera Zvonareva wore a black ribbon pinned to her tennis visor during her Australian Open quarterfinal Wednesday to express condolences over the deadly suicide bombing at Moscow's busiest airport.
The 26-year-old Muscovite watched the news on TV and telephoned family at home to make sure everyone was safe after Monday's attack, which left 35 people dead. Then she directed her focus toward her tennis, keeping the attacks close to her mind.
I put this black ribbon on my visor to express my support,'' she said.It was terrible news for me.''
``I know I am far away, but I am with them,'' Zvonareva told a television interviewer.
The No. 2 seed is trying to win her first Grand Slam title after losing back-to-back finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Zvonareva beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 7-6 (4) in Wednesday's match, which was punctuated by the explosion of canons and air force planes flying overhead to mark Australia's national day.
One of the Russian's techniques for keeping her focus is to drape a towel over her head when sitting in her chair at game changeovers.
I'm just trying to relax my eyes,'' she said.When you play at this intensity, the ball is traveling very fast and you need to keep your concentration. It is just something that helps me.''
Zvonareva faces U.S. Open champion and third-seeded Kim Clijsters in the semifinals. The Belgian beat Zvonareva in last year's U.S. Open final but lost to her in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Clijsters has won six out of their nine meetings.
BAD TIME TO LEAVE: Rules are rules, but Alexandr Dolgopolov's coach tried to explain that he was needed on center court.
The coach, Jack Reader, attempted to negotiate his way back into the player's box and when he was finally allowed back to his seat, he was stunned.
``What's going on here?'' the coach asked when he got back.
When Reader left his seat, the 22-year-old Dolgopolov had forced No. 5 Andy Murray to a fourth set. The unpredictable Ukrainian with an erratic but effective style had gotten the better of Murray in a 36-stroke rally in the third set, saving three break points and then going on to win a tiebreaker.
But if fans - or coaches - leave during a match they are required to wait until odd-numbered game changeovers to enter the stadium to avoid disrupting players.
When Reader was allowed back in after the third game of the fourth set, Dolgopolov was down 3-0.
He went to the toilet,'' Dolgopolov said he learned later, saying he had looked for his coach but didn't see him.They were giving him a hard time getting back because they were saying, 'You don't have a box pass.' He's like, 'Look, it's coach Dolgopolov.' Yeah, he wasn't there for a few games.''
Dolgopolov has emerged as one of the up-and-coming stars of this year's Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals on his first appearance in Melbourne. He caused two of the tournament's biggest upsets, beating No. 13 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the third round, followed by No. 4 Robin Soderling in the fourth.
You look up to see someone cheer for you and it makes you feel better,'' Dolgopolov said.But if he's not there, he went somewhere for his business. I mean, it's not like a tragedy or anything.''
Murray won the fourth set, beating the Ukrainian 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3.
``Getting ahead early in the fourth set made a big difference,'' Murray said.
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VEGEMITE, AN ACQUIRED TASTE: What better way to mark Australia's national day than with a little Vegemite.
Australians grow up eating the iconic spread, a salty, slightly bitter thick brown paste. It is often said that appreciating the acquired taste of Vegemite is only possible if you start young.
``I'll try it,'' Vera Zvonareva told a television interviewer from ESPN who offered her some bread thickly slathered with Vegemite to celebrate Australian Day after her victory.
``I tried it like five years ago, but maybe it's different now,'' the Russian said, looking a bit concerned.
She took a small bite, paused and then winced. Words escaped her.
``Ohhhuhhhmmmm,'' she said, politely handing back the plate, which was quickly taken away.
U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters was offered a dab of Vegemite on bread after her quarterfinal win by former American star Pam Shriver, who is commentating for the sports network.
Clijsters is now married with a child but is known here as ``Aussie Kim,'' a nickname that dates back a few years to the time she was engaged to Australian player Lleyton Hewitt. She showed that she knows a thing or two about Vegemite.
``You don't put butter on?'' Clijsters asked Shriver, who took a bite herself.
``Don't they usually toast their bread?'' Clijsters asked, knowingly.
She did not eat any Vegemite.