Australian Open: Aisam, Rojer storm into third round

Straight sets victory for sixth seeds in Australian Open.

MELBOURNE: It was yet another rewarding effort by Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer in the second round of the Australian Open where they beat Belgians Xavier Malisse and Dick Norman 7-6 (5), 6-4 yesterday.

The sixth seeds booked their place in the third round after a grueling one hour and 33 minutes. They had started the event’s campaign by securing a first-round win over David Goffman and Simon Stadler with an impressive 6-3, 6-1.

Meanwhile, a rampant Maria Sharapova blitzed Venus Williams as she led a parade of top women’s seeds into the fourth round.

The Russian second-seed, who crushed the veteran American 6-1, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena, now has now won 36 of the 40 games she has played at the opening Grand Slam of the season. None of the top names were troubled as Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber and Li Na all progressed forward.

“We know each other’s games very well,” said Sharapova. “A lot of it is about executing from our own sides. I thought I did a good job of what I had in my head and what I wanted to accomplish out there today.”



Williams, seeded 25, made her way back from injury and illness, but was completely outplayed.

While Sharapova looked unbeatable, Poland’s Radwanska also proved too strong for Britain’s Heather Watson in an one-sided match, 6-3, 6-1, while fifth-seed Kerber overcame young American Madison Keys 6-2, 7-5.

Djokovic on track to
defend title

In the men’s singles event, Novak Djokovic remained on track to defend his Australian Open title with another dominant win to reach the fourth round.

World number one Djokovic was untroubled as he served his way into the last 16 with a straight sets win over never-say-die Czech Radek Stepanek.

The two-time defending champion Djokovic, bidding for his fourth Australian crown, didn’t allow Stepanek much of a chance as he completed a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 victory in an entertaining two hour 22 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

“Radek loves the big stage,” said Djokovic. “You saw how much fun he had. I also had a lot of fun playing. It was a very entertaining match. It was three close sets. I felt that I had much more chances on his serve than he had on my serve.”

Elsewhere, fifth-seed Tomas Berdych beat Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, while Japan’s Nishikori kept on the winning trail for a 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-3 victory over Russian Evgeny Donskoy.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2013.