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Posts Tagged ‘Venus Williams’

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark began its first major tournament as World No. 1 with a 6-3, 6-4 against Argentina’s Gisela Dulko.

He was a first victory this year for the young woman of 20 years. She had lost against Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova in the tournament last week in Sydney and against No. 2 Vera Zvonareva and Belgian Kim Clijsters during exhibition games in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Caroline Wozniacki

Wozniacki did not have to save break points in the first round and successfully converted the only one she has obtained against Dulko.

Argentina, the favorite in two, offered a nice contrast to the Danish in the second set and even tied the game 4-4 in breaking the service of his opponent. Wozniacki however countered on the next game before entering the meeting service.

Venus Williams, No. 5, has passed the first round by virtue of his 6-3, 6-2 to Italy’s Sara Errani.

Justine Henin overcame a slow start to beat India’s Sania Mirza 5-7, 6-3, 6-1. Henin has lost the 2010 final to Serena Williams in Melbourne a couple of weeks after returning to competition, has disposed of a point set in the first set but allowed Mirza to breakage, then win two following games to remove the sleeve.

For his part, Maria Sharapova won her first match at Melbourne Park since she won the title at the Australian Open in 2008, with the Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1, 6-3 on center court.

Sharapova, the former favorite world who missed the Australian Open in 2009 because of a shoulder injury and was eliminated in the first round last year by compatriot Maria Kirilenko, has had trouble with his service and lacked consistency in the second set. After being broken in the first play of the game without registering a single point, Sharapova has won seven consecutive games to take the lead 6-1 1-0.

The Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone has seen hard times before finally defeating Spain’s Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4.

The sixth-seeded got the chance to service for the match at 5-3 in the third set but was broken. The Italian has quickly replaced and the service broke Parra Santonja in the next game, so to close the books.

In other first-round matches in the women, the No. 20 Kaia Kanepi beat Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 and No. 29 Cibulkova defeated Germany’s Angelique Kerber 6-2 6 -7 (4), 6-4. Evgeniya Rodina of Russia eliminated the Australian Olivia Rogowska – who got a bye for the tournament – 6-3, 6-1.

Due to the absence of the defending champion Serena Williams – the victim of a foot injury – Clijsters is considered the favorite to win the title for the women at Melbourne Park.

Serena and Venus Williams have committed to play in Fed Cup final against Italy in November. Neither one nor the other sisters had attended the event since 2007.

The U.S. team captain, Mary Joe Fernandez, said Thursday that “you always want to have your best players,” and was “very pleased” to have the Williamses.

The Americans have not won the Fed Cup since 2000. They lost the final against the Italians last year.

The confrontation of-five will be held on November 6 and 7, on hard courts, the San Diego Sports Arena. The U.S. team is complemented by Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek and Liezel Huber-Sands.

Serena Williams, the top-ranked player of the tournament from the elimination of favorite Russian Dinara Safina, a somewhat avenged her sister Venus on Thursday at the Rogers Cup women’s tennis.

The second series header easily defeated Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup women’s tennis. She then faces the Czech Lucie Safarova, who beat China’s Zheng Jie 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Williams had to work a little harder to earn the victory Thursday, but not too strong. From the outset, the American appeared to be heading for another easy day at the office. The first set was fairly simple, but the second series of head slightly hurt during the second round when Bondarenko finally found his touch.

Serena Williams

Williams then breathed through the nose, was relaxed and won three games to go to quarter finals.

“I wanted to be perfect, but I lost my marks on my service and I started to be frustrated,” said Williams. You know, I spent a lot of time to hone my service, and it did not well, and I think that is why I was frustrated. ”

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After Venus Williams was inclined to Kateryna Bondarenko on Tuesday, it has partially redeemed the honor of the family by eliminating Alona, Kateryna’s sister.

The latter has also bowed in the late afternoon before the 14th head series Agnieszka Radwanska in two rounds 7-5 and 6-3. Poland will face in the quarter-finals the winner of the duel to be held Thursday evening between Russians Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva.

Anyway, Williams has not been tested since the beginning of the tournament in Toronto. She easily disposed Yaroslava Shvedova, Wednesday, and could avoid the series heads to the semi-final.

She knows that she must keep calm if it wishes to go that far.

“I get really emotional on the field,” said Williams. Sometimes I’m so involved in the encounter, and I know I do (remain calm). I do not know how to control this is something natural in me, and fortunately it helps me. I think that towards the end of the game I was able to calm me, then I just try to stay positive towards my game ”

However, she admitted she was disappointed with his performance Thursday, after the start gun at the beginning of the tournament.

“I thought I could keep the momentum going. I was sure that I was party to the glory, but today I have performed less well,” she continued. I hope it will come back. ”

Williams, who will participate in the U.S. Open, also said she wanted to win the Rogers Cup for the first time since 2001.

“I just want to play well,” said the American. There is a large gap, so I just want to be able to play well to survive here. This is my main priority. ”

Earlier Thursday, the fourth series header Elena Dementieva also reached the quarter-finals when she beat Israeli Shahar Peer 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in his third round match.

The next opponent of the Russian player will be the Australian Samantha Stosur, who defeated Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano 6-3 and 6-1.

Aravane Rezai has however been able to repeat his feat of the day at the expense of Safina, lowering the flag 6-4 and 6-3 before the Russian Alisa Kleybanova.

The Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli caused a surprise by winning 6-2, 5-7 and 6-4 against Venus Williams in the finals of the tournament at Stanford on Sunday.

Bartoli concluded the match with two consecutive as to realize a second title in 2009 and fifth in career.

“I’ve had a great tournament, but Marion was too good today,” Williams said before a record crowd of 3852 people after the match.

Bartoli was wearing his description to 32-13 for 2009. It offers a yield of 3-4 against the top 10 players so far this year.

Marion Bartoli

Bartoli, eighth seed, was defeated in the finals of the tournament last year. It is expected that the gain allows it to climb two places in WTA ranking to 12th place.

Williams has succeeded Eights Aces, but has not helped its cause by committing 12 double faults. The American second seed, participated in the tournament for the first time since 2005. She won two titles, but none since 2002.

Both players had not competed only once in the final at Wimbledon in 2007. Williams prevailed 6-4, 6-1. Williams shows a record of 31-8 this year. She still won 12 of its last 15 matches.