No.1 going in, No.1 going out. Serena Williams secured the post-Roland Garros No.1 ranking Saturday with a see-saw three set victory over Russian rising star Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 61 16 62.Williams, 28 and seeded No.1, and Pavlyuchenkova, 18 and seeded No.29, both showed off some impressive power on Court Philippe Chatrier, with Williams getting the upper hand in the first set thanks to some sharper serving and her superior movement. Williams' level dipped somewhat in the second set and Pavlyuchenkova's surged, but after the American was treated for dizziness she seemed to pick it up again and rolled through the third fairly handily.
"It was definitely a weird match. She's obviously a good player," Williams said after the match. "I just ran out of energy there. I'm fighting a cold and sickness - but I'm feeling better now. I definitely wasn't at my best today but I'm happy to win, especially against a player that's on the up and up."
"I'm disappointed, because I had a few chances early in the third set. It doesn't mean I still wouldn't lose," Pavlyuchenkova said. "I should take positives from this match though. She's No.1 in the world and I played three sets with her. It was a good experience. She's Serena - she's a fighter, she's really confident.
"After she beat me, she has to win. I really hope she wins the tournament."
It was the first time the pair played, although Pavlyuchenkova did beat Venus Williams in back-to-back weeks in Tokyo and Beijing last fall (just the second player ever to achieve that feat after Lindsay Davenport did it in 2004).
Pavlyuchenkova was playing a No.1-ranked player for the second time in her career, her first time coming in this very round here last year but with a far harsher ending - she lost that to then-No.1 Dinara Safina, 62 60.
Next up for Williams is No.18 seed Shahar Peer, who beat No.13 seed Marion Bartoli later in the afternoon, 76(7) 62. Williams leads the head-to-head with Peer, 4-0, but in their only previous encounter at a Grand Slam, the win came with an 8-6 third set in the 2007 Australian Open quarterfinals.
Elsewhere, No.23 seed Daniela Hantuchova defeated No.16 seed Yanina Wickmayer, 75 63, improving to 4-0 against the Belgian; Yaroslava Shvedova followed up her upset over No.8 seed Agnieszka Radwanska with a 62 46 60 win over No.28 seed Alisa Kleybanova; and wildcard Jarmila Groth made her first Grand Slam second week with a 63 57 62 win over Anastasia Rodionova.
"Every year I try to give my dad a good birthday present. I finally made it. It's his birthday tomorrow, so he's very happy," commented Groth, formerly Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia but now playing for Australia after her recent marriage to Sam Groth. "In the end I thought I played well. I held my nerves somehow. I thought I played the big points well. I can't say much more than that."
No.19 seed Nadia Petrova also completed a 67(2) 64 108 win over No.15 seed Aravane Rezai, which had been stopped at 7-all the night before due to darkness. Rezai held three match points leading 5-4 on Friday night.
No.12 seed Maria Sharapova didn't finish her match due to rain against No.22 seed Justine Henin, as they were one set all, Henin taking the first 62, and Sharapova winning the second set 63. The match will be resumed tomorrow.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Singles - Third Round
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. (29) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 61 16 62
(4) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (27) Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 64 76(3)
(7) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. (Q) Anastasia Pivovarova (RUS) 63 62
(18) Shahar Peer (ISR) d. (13) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 76(7) 62
(19) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (15) Aravane Rezai (FRA) 67(2) 64 108
(23) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. (16) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 75 63
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. (28) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 62 46 60
(WC) Jarmila Groth (AUS) d. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 63 57 62
Suspended due to darkness
(12) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. (22) Justine Henin (BEL) 26 63
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