Two Russians match their talents for the first slot in the quarterfinals: Maria Sharapova, number one seed, against Anna Chakvetadze, twelfth seed. The next slot will go to either Belgian Belle Kim Clijsters (fourth seed) or Swiss Miss Martina Hingis (sixth). I am delighted to say that I am currently watching the contest for the third slot between the US’s Serena Williams and Israel’s Shahar Peer. I don’t think it’s just their citrus-colored attire that make this one juicy match–quelle tennis! In the fourth slot, Nicole Vaidisova beat Lucie Safarova in two sets (6-1, 6-4) to represent Czechoslovakia in the next round. In minutes we’ll know her challenger, Shahar or Serena, it’s any woman’s game at this point…
p.s. Did you see Shahar smash that?!
p.p.s Serena takes it. Incredible.
Serena Williams certainly displayed her athletic prowess and fierce competitive spirit in the Australian Open’s third round. Though unseeded herself, Williams fought to victory over fifth seed Nadia Petrova (1-6, 7-5, 6-3). Williams joked that she felt like running a marathon after winning this match. She’d better save her energy for Sunday when she faces Jelena Jankovic, she’ll need it against this fiery up-and-comer; Jankovic scored an impressive third round victory over Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (6-3, 6-4).
Amelie Mauresmo, the defending women’s champ, took down Eva Birnerova in two sets (6-3, 6-1) and plays Lucie Safarova next. Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova also had an easy win over Maria Kirilenko, 6-1, 6-4. Other winners in the women’s singles third round were Elena Dementieva, Nicole Vaidisova, and Shahar Peer.
Still to come in third round women’s action: Maria Sharapova vs. Tathiana Garbin, Kim Clijsters vs. Alona Bondarenko, Martina Hingis vs. Aiko Nakamura, Dinara Safina vs. Na Li.
