Resurgent Serena seals quarters spot
Source: Agencies |
May 6, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TOP-RANKED Serena Williams reached the Italian Open quarterfinals in her first tournament in three months after defeating Andrea Petkovic of Germany 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 yesterday.
A left knee injury had kept Williams off the tour since she won the singles and doubles at the Australian Open, and she was entered in Rome thanks to a wildcard.
Against the 49th-ranked Petkovic her game was erratic at times. She closed the match with almost as many winners as unforced errors, 25 to 21.
Serena got off to a good start, winning the first set with a five-game streak. But she quickly fell 1-4 behind in the second, came back to 4-3 but conceded another break to Petkovic. Williams netted a forehand on set point.
In the third set, Williams picked up her game and played aggressively.
Also, Nadia Petrova of Russia won 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 against Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania.
On Tuesday, defending champion Dinara Safina, who was making a return from back injury, lost her opener to the Romanian 4-6, 7-6(5), 1-6.
No. 4-ranked Venus, taking to the center court at the Foro Italico just before her sister on Tuesday, handled veteran Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-2.
Venus had an easier time against Schnyder, a lefty who had defeated Serena in Rome last year. Venus was always in control of the match, breaking the Swiss player six times.
"I think it was a pretty good performance. I felt good on court," Venus said. "She probably likes clay with her type of game and I was able to execute pretty well out there on the court."
In other results on Tuesday, second-ranked Caroline Wozniacki dispatched Italian Maria Elena Camerin 6-1, 6-0 in less than one hour in the evening match, while former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic upset Victoria Azarenka, the ninth seed from Belarus, 6-4, 6-4.
Ivanovic's ranking has slipped from No. 1 to No. 58. The Serb has been trying to regain her form and recently hired Steffi Graf's old coach, Heinz Gunthardt.
In Munich, top-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia beat Michael Berrer of Germany 6-4, 6-2 yesterday to advance to the second round of the BMW Open.
Fourth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber also advanced to the second round by ousting German compatriot Daniel Brands 6-4, 6-4.
A left knee injury had kept Williams off the tour since she won the singles and doubles at the Australian Open, and she was entered in Rome thanks to a wildcard.
Against the 49th-ranked Petkovic her game was erratic at times. She closed the match with almost as many winners as unforced errors, 25 to 21.
Serena got off to a good start, winning the first set with a five-game streak. But she quickly fell 1-4 behind in the second, came back to 4-3 but conceded another break to Petkovic. Williams netted a forehand on set point.
In the third set, Williams picked up her game and played aggressively.
Also, Nadia Petrova of Russia won 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 against Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania.
On Tuesday, defending champion Dinara Safina, who was making a return from back injury, lost her opener to the Romanian 4-6, 7-6(5), 1-6.
No. 4-ranked Venus, taking to the center court at the Foro Italico just before her sister on Tuesday, handled veteran Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-2.
Venus had an easier time against Schnyder, a lefty who had defeated Serena in Rome last year. Venus was always in control of the match, breaking the Swiss player six times.
"I think it was a pretty good performance. I felt good on court," Venus said. "She probably likes clay with her type of game and I was able to execute pretty well out there on the court."
In other results on Tuesday, second-ranked Caroline Wozniacki dispatched Italian Maria Elena Camerin 6-1, 6-0 in less than one hour in the evening match, while former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic upset Victoria Azarenka, the ninth seed from Belarus, 6-4, 6-4.
Ivanovic's ranking has slipped from No. 1 to No. 58. The Serb has been trying to regain her form and recently hired Steffi Graf's old coach, Heinz Gunthardt.
In Munich, top-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia beat Michael Berrer of Germany 6-4, 6-2 yesterday to advance to the second round of the BMW Open.
Fourth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber also advanced to the second round by ousting German compatriot Daniel Brands 6-4, 6-4.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
