Apia International Sydney Tennis - Australian Open Series

Serena slams into quarterfinals

Tuesday 13 January 2009 24 Comments »

American superstar Serena Williams has turned in a devastating display to down Italian Sara Errani in her second round match at the Medibank International Sydney today.

In contrast to her three-set battle against Australian Sam Stosur on Sunday, when she was forced to save four match points, the No.1 seed won comfortably 6-1 6-2 to set-up a quarterfinal meeting with the in-form Caroline Wozniacki.

The US Open champion said while she was happy with her performance, there were still areas of her game she wanted to work on before next week’s Australian Open.

“[I played] a little better today. I still think I can improve on some things, and that’s what I want to do.  I don’t want to peak too soon.  Just want to stay level for the whole season,” Williams said post-match.

“I was a little disappointed with it [my serve] in the first round, but it was much better today.”

Russian second seed Dinara Safina has also advanced with an easy 6-3 6-0 victory over qualifier Vera Dushevina.

Safina will meet either French youngster Alize Cornet or Russian Alisa Kleybanova in the last eight after her convincing display against Dushevina.

The qualifier had no answer to the world No.3, who has now won four of five matches in 2009.

In contrast to Williams and Safina, fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova scraped through her second round match against Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi.

The former US Open champion, who beat Peng Shuai in the first round, eventually overcame Kanepi 6-2 2-6 7-6(3) to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Japan’s Ai Sugiyama, who downed Spain’s Anabel Medina-Garrigues 2-6 6-1 6-2.

Earlier today, in-form Russian Elena Dementieva made the last eight by beating Slovakian-born Australian Jarmila Gajdosova 6-2 6-4.

Lleyton Hewitt is next up on Ken Rosewall Arena against Frenchman Julien Benneteau.

Video: Serena Williams post-match press conference

Tags: Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva, Serena Williams

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