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August 1, 2009

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Home » Sports » Tennis

Williams sisters on course for final clash

Source: Agencies | August 1, 2009, Saturday | Print Edition

THE Williams sisters remained on course for another final showdown when the top two seeds eased into the last eight of the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, with routine second-round victories on Thursday.

Wimbledon champion Serena needed a second set tiebreak to overcome Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-3, 7-6 (7), while big sister Venus advanced with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva.

Top seed Serena struggled to master left-handed Czink's fierce forehand but the American's greater experience proved vital, especially in staving off a set point with a clever serve when the Hungarian led 7-6 in the tiebreak.

The world No. 56 then missed two forehands to hand Serena the set and the match.

"I've been off this whole week," said Serena, who sent down 10 aces in setting up a quarterfinal against Australia's Samantha Stosur. "She served pretty well towards the end, especially big second serves. I could have returned better." Stosur held match points against the American in Sydney earlier this year and watched her opponent from the stands on Thursday.

"She should be very confident going into the match," Serena said. "Hopefully I'll be playing a little better tomorrow."

Venus faced less of a struggle than her younger sister, but was tested in the second set against the hard-hitting Kudryavtseva.

"My error count was a little high," Venus told reporters.

"I could have been a little more consistent and maybe won the second set 6-2 or 6-3."

Next up for the seven-time grand slam champion is a mouth-watering clash against Maria Sharapova, who is continuing her rehabilitation from a long injury layoff.

The Russian, who has won three grand slam titles, leads their rivalry 3-2.

"My key is to execute my game as best I can," Venus said. "I feel like it will be a good match-up for me. I always enjoy playing against Maria."

In other matches, fourth seeded Jelena Jankovic was pushed hard by German teenage prospect Sabine Lisicki before emerging with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

The Serb advanced to a meeting with eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France after last year's losing finalist beat American teenager Melanie Oudin 7-5, 6-4.

Third seed Elena Dementieva of Russia and Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova will contest the other quarterfinal.

In Istanbul, third seed Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain overcame wildcard Pemra Ozgen to advance to the quarterfinals of the Istanbul Cup on Wednesday.

Medina Garrigues beat Ozgen 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, in the Turk's first-ever appearance in the second round of a WTA tournament.

Eighth seed Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic rallied against Julia Goerges of Germany, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to also make it to the last eight.

Elsewhere, Urszula Radwanska of Poland ousted qualifier Ekaterina Dzehalevich of Belarus 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 and Germany's Andrea Petkovic beat Rossana De Los Rios of Paraguay 6-1, 6-0.

Medina Garrigues will meet fifth-seeded Vera Dushevina of Russia in the quarterfinals.


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