Australian Open: Sharapova suffers Melbourne exit
Causes second big tournament upset, Azarenka advances to quarters.
Injury-hobbled Maria Sharapova crashed out, just a day after Serena Williams went the same way, opening the door wider to Victoria Azarenka who coasted into the last-eight. PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE:
Maria Sharapova joined Serena Williams in making an early exit from the Australian Open on Monday, but defending champion Victoria Azarenka swept into the quarter-finals with an 18th straight victory at Melbourne Park.
Third seed Sharapova was scratched from the title race with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova.
Hindered by a hip niggle, the 2008 champion admitted that the year’s first Grand Slam had probably come a little early after she missed the US Open and back end of last season with a shoulder injury.
“I certainly would have loved to play a little bit more before playing a grand slam, but this is the chance that I was given,” said the Russian.
As the only surviving top three seed left in the women’s draw, Azarenka looks to be running out of serious challengers as she charts her course towards a third successive title. She outplayed Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 with ease in 91 minutes.
However, the second seed denied that the departure of Serena and Sharapova left her and last year’s losing finalist Li Na as favourites for the title.
“I don’t consider anybody as the favourite, I just go out there and play my best,” she said. “We’ve seen over the last couple of days that somebody can bring their best game on any given day so you have to stay alert.”
Vintage Federer books Murray quarter-final
A majestic Roger Federer emphatically returned to the Grand Slam big-time by trouncing Jo Wilfried-Tsonga 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to book a blockbuster quarter-final with Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.
The Swiss fittingly sealed the match with an imperious cross-court volley and declared the crisis of confidence that blighted last season banished. “For me, I’ve overcome it, I don’t have doubts anymore,” said Federer. “I know I’m going in the right direction.”
Wednesday’s clash against fourth seed Murray will be a re-match of last year’s semi-final in which the Briton won a thriller in five sets.
In his match, Murray eased into the quarters after beating Stephane Robert, the world number 119, 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (7/6), 6-2, as he continues his comeback from back surgery.
In another match, world number one Rafael Nadal fought off a spirited challenge from Japan’s Kei Nishikori to win through to the quarter-finals.
The Spaniard won 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) and will play Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the last-eight.
Nishikori pressed Nadal all the way and had his chances to take sets off the top seed only to fall down on forehand errors.
Nadal was angered when he was called for a time violation by chair umpire Eva Asderaki at deuce while 4-4 at a critical time in the third set, but he regathered his composure to win the match in his second tiebreaker.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2014.
Maria Sharapova joined Serena Williams in making an early exit from the Australian Open on Monday, but defending champion Victoria Azarenka swept into the quarter-finals with an 18th straight victory at Melbourne Park.
Third seed Sharapova was scratched from the title race with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova.
Hindered by a hip niggle, the 2008 champion admitted that the year’s first Grand Slam had probably come a little early after she missed the US Open and back end of last season with a shoulder injury.
“I certainly would have loved to play a little bit more before playing a grand slam, but this is the chance that I was given,” said the Russian.
As the only surviving top three seed left in the women’s draw, Azarenka looks to be running out of serious challengers as she charts her course towards a third successive title. She outplayed Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 with ease in 91 minutes.
However, the second seed denied that the departure of Serena and Sharapova left her and last year’s losing finalist Li Na as favourites for the title.
“I don’t consider anybody as the favourite, I just go out there and play my best,” she said. “We’ve seen over the last couple of days that somebody can bring their best game on any given day so you have to stay alert.”
Vintage Federer books Murray quarter-final
A majestic Roger Federer emphatically returned to the Grand Slam big-time by trouncing Jo Wilfried-Tsonga 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to book a blockbuster quarter-final with Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.
The Swiss fittingly sealed the match with an imperious cross-court volley and declared the crisis of confidence that blighted last season banished. “For me, I’ve overcome it, I don’t have doubts anymore,” said Federer. “I know I’m going in the right direction.”
Wednesday’s clash against fourth seed Murray will be a re-match of last year’s semi-final in which the Briton won a thriller in five sets.
In his match, Murray eased into the quarters after beating Stephane Robert, the world number 119, 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (7/6), 6-2, as he continues his comeback from back surgery.
In another match, world number one Rafael Nadal fought off a spirited challenge from Japan’s Kei Nishikori to win through to the quarter-finals.
The Spaniard won 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) and will play Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the last-eight.
Nishikori pressed Nadal all the way and had his chances to take sets off the top seed only to fall down on forehand errors.
Nadal was angered when he was called for a time violation by chair umpire Eva Asderaki at deuce while 4-4 at a critical time in the third set, but he regathered his composure to win the match in his second tiebreaker.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2014.