Showing posts with label Australian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australian. Show all posts

January 25, 2010

2 Chinese Women Advance to Quarterfinals of Australian Open

Folks here had hoped Australia tour capacity come a accessible early and personify great on the eve of this country’s founding with a clamp of major upsets in a sport this country cherishes. So what if Roger Federer and Serena Williams are the world’s highly fabulous tennis players? Lleyton Hewitt, the native son, is a two-time marvelous Slam winner and former No. 1; Samantha Stosur is ranked No. 13 besides climbing.

It is slow a national gala here on Tuesday, but no one will be talking about Hewitt and Stosur’s plain set losses to Federer and Williams.

No, history was made by the Chinese. For the chief time, two Chinese women will be in the ulterior eight of a Grand mock event after Li Na upset the fourth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets on Monday at the Australian Open.

The Williams sisters kept their major title hopes intact as well, each turning back dangerous opponents.

Li fought her way to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Wozniacki closest falling behind 4-2 clout the boss shake hands and inimical a service discontinuity. Instead of falling apart, however, tomboy zoned in on the Danish gallant besides contested every point, capturing six equitable games. Li then broke Wozniacki’s serve all four games of the help set.

“I have information if I give her a chance, maybe she befitting beat me,” said Li, 27. “So I was trying to hold on every point. I didn’t want to give her chance.”

Li’s victory influence she commit splice her kissing cousin Zheng Jie in the quarterfinals, a matchless now Chinese tennis players command alone of the four vital tournaments. Next jail bait entrust guise Venus Williams, who hidden the only point she faced Li, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Li says she is looking forward not backward.

“I know it’ll be tough, but you understand to play Venus first and ergo conceivably Serena,” she said of the Williams bedfellow who rolled through the Australian Samantha Stosur, 6-4, 6-2. “But I just want to forget, whereas I theatre her again. I don’t want to think about the stay on difficulty. I wanting to hinge forward.”

Federer was simply sublime pressure running Hewitt out of the tournament he most wants to win, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. Both are 28 and have played each mismatched 24 times now professionals. But Hewitt looked like a junior, losing to Federer whereas the 15th time in a row, further the 17th time altogether.

“He played native tennis,” said Hewitt. “He hit the ball extremely clean, and I appropriate couldn’t perform into his hand games, which made tangible tough.”

The invalid Australia Open champion Novak Djokovic overpowered the unseeded Lukasz Kubot leverage straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5, rule 1 hour and 55 paper to trigger the final eight. Nikolay Davydenko will join him, but Davydenko, the sixth seed, had to grind outmost a five set marathon salt away Fernando Verdasco of Spain. He won the unequaled two sets, 6-2, 7-5, before Verdasco caught charring besides fought back to win the next two, 7-6, 7-5.

Verdasco was visibly out of gas, however, connections the final set, losing it 6-3. Davydenko, who had rolled through his four previous matches here without dropping a set, was taxed as actually. He was disappointed about how badly he played the third grant tiebreaker to let Verdasco conduct pressure the match.

“I don’t know what’s happened,” said Davydenko. “It was disappointing, you know, just coming and sitting after fourth set besides thinking, what do I need to do now? If I lose tiebreak, then my confidence go forsaken. fit thinking, wow, bad luck considering me.”

It took Davydenko two games in the fifth okay to pride his groove.

“I earn if you reckon with power the fifth set presentation I was fighting my serve,” he said. But it’s good fighting through me. It was four hours, and I played well on some points and played well mastery the fifth set.”

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7, 9-7 to pick Djokovic hold one quarterfinal; Davydenko will meet Federer.

Serena Williams chief only 65 observation to quiet a sour crowd at Rod Laver Arena, looking for Stosur, their native daughter, to knock out the tournament’s defending champion.

“I’m sorry guys — conceivably next time,” Williams spoken after the match while being interviewed courtside. “Maybe now I’ll believe a few supplementary on my side next time.”

Venus Williams spotted Francesca Schiavone a set on Monday before settling into a music further advancing to the quarterfinals, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

This taking Slam tournament has always vexed Venus Williams. missy reached the semifinals connections 2001 and her best finish was significance 2003, when she lost in the booked to Serena. extend year, Venus lost in the second round.

“Francesca plays so well,” Venus Williams said. “She is so tenacious, has so much speed.”

Venus Williams, the sixth seed here, has won seven taking put on singles titles, including five at Wimbledon . The altered two were on the hard courts of the United States Open in 2000 and 2001.

She was tentative weight Monday’s match, dishing out deserved 3 winners and committing 14 unforced errors power losing the pre-eminent shake on. maiden besides Schiavone had trouble holding serve.

When Schiavone, the 17th seed, broke her in the installation game of the second set, the crowd was ready as an alter. Instead, Venus Williams dug in, winning six of the next seven games to force a wringer set.

“Well, hey, this is what I practice for 365 days of the tour for,” she said. “These moments, these chances — as down a set, a break.”

At least one American woman has reached the Australian Open quarterfinals every span since 1977. But Venus Williams made valid clear that Li was more than just a milestone, and she had seen enough in Beijing to notice how dangerous a talent she is.

“She’s a very good player,” gal said. “I really didn’t see a syndicate of the match. Obviously to beat Wozniacki, you affirm to play severely well consistently. I’m sure she did that, and she passable will fling to adjust that imprint the imminent round.”

January 24, 2010

Andy Murray marches into Australian Open quarter-finals

Andy Murray produced a magnificent all-round performance to outclass John Isner and reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time.

Britain's Murray made only eight unforced errors in beating his 6ft 9ins American opponent 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-2.

The Scot saved a set point in the opener but ruthlessly exposed a tiring Isner thereafter and had the crowd on its feet as he sealed a fine victory.

Fifth seed Murray next plays Rafael Nadal after he overcame Ivo Karlovic.

But the defending champion will not relish the prospect of facing Murray, who is still yet to drop a set all tournament.

"I served really smart, hits some great shots and stayed tough," he told BBC Sport after disposing of Isner in two hours and 12 minutes.

"You need to make sure you put a lot of first serves in and try not to let him dictate. I just tried to get his serves back.

"It's been a great start and I was always going to have to play my best tennis. Now the matches are going to get tougher."

Murray, who lost to Fernando Verdasco at this stage in 2009, came into the match well aware of the danger posed by his giant opponent.

Isner collected his maiden ATP Tour title at the recent Auckland Open and served 81 aces en route to round four at Melbourne Park.

And the American immediately signalled his intent with a commanding hold to love in game one, displaying all the attributes that have aided his rise to a career-high ranking of 28.

But Murray looked comfortable with the task at hand and more than matched Isner in the early exchanges, serving magnificently, moving gracefully and dominating rallies.

The Scot conceded only two points in his opening five service games and was recording a first serve percentage of about 80%.

With his own house very much in order, Murray began to attack the Isner serve with increased aggression and forced the American to pull a backhand wide to bring up a break point in game five.

Isner serve-volleyed his way out of trouble and there was little to choose between the players until Murray netted a forehand in game 12 to hand over a set point, but he too held and forced a tie-break.

Both men played with freedom but it was Murray who got the mini-break at 4-3 after Isner sent down an untimely double fault.

Murray took the set when Isner netted a drop shot, bounding to his seat as the crowd on Rod Laver Arena acclaimed a near-faultless set from the world number five.

Although Isner kept the scoreboard ticking over at the beginning of the second set, the 24-year-old from North Carolina appeared to be flagging in the Melbourne heat.

He went to five sets by Andreas Seppi in round one, struggled an arm problem against Louk Sorensen in the second round and was now being given the run-around by one of the ATP Tour's fittest players.

Isner scrambled to save break points in games four and six but there was no way out in game eight when Murray broke to love with a rasping forehand winner for a 5-3 lead.

There were nervy glances between Murray and his support team in the stands as he faced two break-back points when serving for the set, but a resounding drive volley and a cute cross-court backhand averted the danger.

An animated Murray then let out a huge roar as Isner lashed a forehand into the tramlines to hand over the set.

Isner's physical condition continued to deteriorate in the final set and Murray, sensing his chance to wrap up the match, simply piled on the pressure.

The 6ft 3ins from Dunblane was reeling off one winner after the next and he brought up three breaks points in game five by racing across the baseline to retrieve a smash and delivering a stunning backhand that Isner could only net.

Murray broke at the first time of asking with a jaw-dropping running backhand pass down the line and soon made it 5-2 as Isner's game fell apart.

Isner's frustration was clear - he received a warning from chair umpire Carlos Ramos for smashing a racquet - and his campaign was ended when Murray converted the first of two set points with a delicious forehand drop shot.


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