A "Kinboshi" or "Gold Star" is awarded in Ozumo when a Maegashira (= non-champion) beats a Yokozuna (=Grand Champion). M1W Samantha Stosur did so twice in this tournament, eliminating first Y1W Justine Henin in round 4, and now Dai-Yokozuna Y1E Serena Williams in the quarterfinals, each time in gruelling three-setters. As a result, Stosur will be re-promoted to at least Komusubi (=Junior Champion II) after this tournament, the same rank she held following her semifinal participation at the 2009 French Open. At the time Stosur lost a close match to the eventual winner Svetlana Kuznetsova; this year her opponent is M1E Jelena Jankovic, in a battle of the highest ranked Maegashira. Jankovic, a former Sekiwake (Junior Champion I), will also return to the sanyaku (=championship) ranks after this tournament, for the first time in more than a year.
In the mens' tournament, Yokozuna Rafael Nadal held off his compatriot M6E Nicolas Almagro in three close sets, and will now face M7W Juergen Melzer in the semifinals, who surprisingly eliminated long-time Ozeki (=Champion) Novak Djokovic after being already two sets down. Melzer will therefore give his sanyaku debut at 29 years of age.
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