Returning to the court again Serena had her serve broken but managed to use her awe inspiring power to break the Jovanovski serve and prevail 6-2 6-4. Williams advances to the quarter finals where she will meet Daniela Hantuchova, if the MRI scan allows her to do so.
The 13-times-major winner, Williams is playing in Australia for the first time since missing the 2011 Australian Open, as well as most of the season, with a potential life treating injury.
The earlier match on Pat Rafter Arena saw reigning US Open Champion and top seed Samantha Stosur bundled out by Czech Iveta Benesova. The diminutive Czech had not won a set off the Australian in four previous meetings but changed her fortunes in front of Stosur's home crowd. The start of 2012 is a real change of fortunes, in the first found she defeated Lucie Safarova, who she had failed to beat previously also.
Across the Tasman Sea in Auckland, despite rain interrupting play throughout the day. The New Zealand crowds were treated to two German battle's with another one set for the quarterfinals. Top seed Sabine Lisicki had the task of dispatching young rising star compatriot Mona Barthel. The topsy-tervy match saw the more experienced player prevail 7-6 3-6 6-3. In the quarters Lisicki will play surprise US Open semifinalist Angelique Kerber who was too solid for an ill Julia Goerges advancing 6-2 6-3.
Svetlana Kuznetsova showed incredible form to destroy rising American teenager Christina McHale 6-1 6-1. It was one of the Russian's most solid performances in recent time and shows promising signs coming into the new season.
EDIT - Reliable sources inform me that Serena Williams HAS withdrawn from the Brisbane International
19 comments:
Why does Bonjangles always have to play Serena?
Carlos, I didn't watch the Goerges match but had the feeling Kerber would spank her. Here is the latest from twitter:
Ran a little out of energy today! trying to get fit as soon as possible and trying to do as well as possible with flavi in doubs! so far we got a win today under our belt it s a lot of fun playing with her! having massage now and then off to hotel and bed!see u tmrw
I see Vesnina beat Vinci. And Kuzzie working over McHale doesn't sound like a very entertaining match from my perspective! But, it was on at like 1am here so I didn't view that either.
Ostrich is up 4-2 against Mattek-Sands.
Ostrich wins easily!
With Stosur & Serena out.. Kimmie should have no problem getting by Benesova & Dani. And of course I don't see anyone on the other side of the draw (Fran, JJ, Petko, Kanepi) stealing Kim's bacon. Maybe they should just go ahead and give her the title now!
Kim is probably a very happy tennis player now! The only player I think could challenge her is an inform Kanepi or Dani. Haven't seen Fran or JJ play yet so don't know how they're going, Petko struggled with Peer and BZS.
I think the Czech's and French will play in the Hopman Cup final. As expected.
I keep noticing that when McHale loses she gets destroyed.
The upset bug may be still hanging around, Kookie Monster must be careful. Throwing this out there to put doubts in your minds haha. :P
Caps I like the pairing between Flavia/Julia or Flavi/Jules.
Clefairy did the Crazy Czech go off? BTW who are your sources, if you can reveal them?
Carlos, a magician never reveal her secrets! All I can say it pays to have friends in high places ;)
...and low places too. :P
Off topic: Does Australian T.V. allow nudity on regular (non-cable) programs?
Interesting question to say the least :P Yes, well to some extent, I guess, SBS is a big believer in it!
Speaking of nudity.. America needs to get rid of that stupid NC-17 rating. One of my favorite actresses Carey Mulligan is starring in 'Shame' which comes out later this year.
As you probably know NC-17 movies are shunned in awards because of the taboo associated with the rating.
They need to just merge it with rated 'R'.
I remember when I was junior high and my friends and I wanted to see "Beverly Hills Cop 2". We couldn't get tickets because the movie was rated "R", at the ticket window we were denied because we were under age. No one under 17 was allowed to see the movie without an adult. We decided to ask someone to buy the tickets for us. I walked up to a senior citizen and politely asked him which movie was he seeing and he said it was B.H.C.2. I asked him if he could purchase the tickets for us. He agreed and bought us the tickets. We follow/walked behind the gentleman and we didn't have any problems when we were asked for the tickets at the entrance.
Since the beginning I never like the NC-17 rating but they are ways to go around the "R" rated movies.
Clefairy I've been thinking on what you said and you are probably right, I did live on the edge in my youth.
Vesnina looks a little weird with darker hair. Should I assume this is her natural color?
How many natural blonds have you met in your life time Mr. Caps?
Not enough, Mac!
I knew Kanepi was going to beat Petko. I should start pushing these predictions.
Kimmie was up like 5-0 on Benesova and finally wins the first set 6-3.
Doubles Auckland: Flavia/Julia had a tough match in the QF finally prevailing in the super tie breaker. Final score 4-6, 7-5, 10-8.
Caps, my prediction is that your woman Julia and Flavia will go down in the semis to your other woman Vesnina and her team mate Mirza. To be Caps at this moment and have the pleasure to enjoy more than one woman.
This is the second time that Licki Bean withdraws from a tournament with lower back injury after having a tough previous round, and losing the first set. Carbon copy from Bali. Is she really healed, pushing herself, or bush league tactic? I like her but I have to fair in my comments.
Might have to stay up for the following matches:
22:00 Goerges / Pennetta - Mirza / Vesnina (WTA Auckland)
23:30 Kvitova - Wozniacki (Czech Republic - Denmark)
And THEN wake up for this one:
04:00 Clijsters - Hantuchova (WTA Brisbane)
Nah, its going to be one or the other.. And I really wanna see Ostrich trounce that Bunny!
However, not sure if I'll watch any of them right now.
Big Mac, it seems to be the Mirza/Vesnina express should win due to their many matches as a team.
Well, went to sleep and missed the night matches. However, I've woken up about 4:30am and caught the first set. Kim was down 1-4 and then 3-5, 4-5, 5-5.
Lot of crap play from Kimmie and missed out on 6 break points. She's now down 6-5.
On to the tie break -- Kimmie wins the first set 7-6! WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!
Lets check the other scores:
Ostrich wins it! Rumor has it the Bunny apologists are already making up excuses in their dreams....
Wow, Goerges/Pennetta won against Vesnina/Mirza 2-6, 7-6(2), 11-9.
Lucinda, what was the exact reason for Kim's retirement? I'm very disappointed as this will most certainly make her less than 100% for the AO assuming she even plays.
Kim retired due to a left hip injury. This is the same injury she suffered in Cincinnati 2010. This time it seems more serious though :\
So, do you see her missing the AO and coming back for the French? Or just playing Wimbledon, Olympics and calling it a career?
That said, I feel much better about Kim's pending retirement than I did last time.... Because the big bad Ostrich is in the house!
Its hard to say, she was obviously struggling with movement in the 2nd, which is such a huge part of her game. I really hope she does plays AO, she has time to rest it up. If she misses AO she'll be back for IW. I hope she can actually finish this final year, not like '07.
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