Serena survives challenge; Dementieva ousted in three sets

No. 2 seed Serena Williams survived her third round match after winning in three sets, while No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva was defeated in three sets by an Australian.

Williams got past Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez with a score of 46 63 64.

"I haven't played that much on clay this year. I felt I probably should have won this match in two sets, but I didn't. But mentally I'm doing well and getting a lot of experience," Williams said. "She gave a great battle. She fought well. She's a great doubles player and a good singles player as well. She did a great job."

Dementieva failed to succeed in her match against No. 30 seed Samantha Stosur, 63 46 61, two days after luckily winning to another Australian, Jelena Dokic, who retired while leading.

"I had played Elena a few times, most recently in Australia, and I think I was up 5-2 in the first set there. The main reason I didn't win that set was a lack of belief, probably," Stosur said. "I knew I had the game to trouble her. It was just a matter of handling the situation. Today I did, and I felt great. It's a big step."

"The way she played in Australia was impressive. I always had tough matches against her. She has really improved the last few years," Dementieva said. "It's really difficult to play against someone who is so fit. And her serve is unusual for the women's game - lots of speed and very difficult to return."

The upset of the day was when Sorana Cirstea ousted No. 10 seed Caroline Wozniacki in tough straight sets, 76(3) 75.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Singles - Third Round

(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) 46 63 64

(30) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. (4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 63 46 61

(5) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Jarmila Groth (AUS) 61 61

(7) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Melinda Czink (HUN) 61 63

(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (22) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 57 75 62

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. (10) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 76(3) 75

(12) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 62 64

(24) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) 62 36 63

Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. Tathiana Garbin (ITA) 75 75

Venus ousted in straight sets; Sharapova wins thrilling three-setter

On Day 6 in Paris, Venus Williams had a bad day, as she failed to enter the second week of the tournament after being ousted by Agnes Szavay, while Maria Sharapova came back from a set down to beat Yaroslava Shvedova.

No. 29 seed Szavay demolished the 3rd seeded American in easy straight sets, 60 64.

"I had a tough day, and I didn't get the ball in the court, and that didn't help me at all," said Williams, who did recover somewhat in the second set, holding a point for a 5-3 lead at one point. "I'm used to beating people 6-0. I'm not used to my shots not going in and losing a set 6-0. So it was completely foreign ground for me. I had a lot of struggles out there and you've got to play well. Today it just didn't come together for me."

"This may be the biggest win of my career. It's for sure one of the biggest ones," Szavay said. "I just kept playing my game and always concentrated on the next point, then I realized I had match point. I started to think, 'Oh my God, I have match point against Venus.' But suddenly it was over and I won the match."

Sharapova lost the first set with a very easy score, but then regained her game and came back to win with a score of 16 63 64.

"I dug a nice pothole for myself there. That's kind of what I've been doing the last few rounds," Sharapova said on the slow start. "I got rid of all of those errors and started playing better. Even if I'm playing horribly in the beginning of the match, I know it's not over 'til it's over. I've given myself a chance to play another match. That's the only thing I can ask for now."

No. 1 seed Dinara Safina easily ousted her opponent Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 62 60.

"We had a few very tough games at the start but when I broke her I started playing much more aggressively, and then I was dominating," said Safina, the first player in 15 years to lose less than five games en route to the fourth round. "I just try to be dominant on the court. If I don't, the other player will take their chances and it'll be 50/50. But if I am I know it's not easy to handle my level."

Friday, May 29, 2009

Singles - Third Round

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (27) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 62 60

(29) Agnes Szavay (HUN) d. (3) Venus Williams (USA) 60 64

(8) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. (32) Iveta Benesova (CZE) 60 62

(20) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 64 62

(25) Li Na (CHN) d. Olga Govortsova (BLR) 75 61

Aravane Rezai (FRA) d. (Q) Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) 76(3) 62

Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (Q) Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 16 63 64

Postponed due to darkness

(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) ties (22) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 57 75

Williams sisters both advance on Day 5 in Paris

Venus Williams lost the first set in her match in a tiebreak, she regained her strength to win the next two sets, advancing to the third round of the second Grand Slam of the year along with her sister Serena, who easily won her match in straight sets.

Venus took on Lucie Safarova on Day 5 in Paris, losing the first set with a close score in the tiebreak, then winning the next two with a fight. The final score was 67(5) 62 75.

"Yesterday I think I did too many things wrong. She was just firing for every shot and making them," Williams said. "There was a lot to think about during the delay, and when I came back I just tried to be as aggressive as I could. The last two sets were really close and she was playing well. But these kinds of matches are really rewarding, and I felt like I deserved the win today."

Serena easily demolished Virginia Ruano Pascual, 62 60.

"Everything clicked for me today, finally. I'm not nearly as upset as I was the other day," said Williams, who needed nine match points to finish off her first round opponent, Klara Zakopalova, on Tuesday. "I was really upset yesterday and other than coming here to practice I stayed home all day. Today I came out feeling like I had no pressure on me and I just did the best I could."

No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva was lucky to advance, after her opponent, Jelena Dokic, was leading a set and 3-4 and then retired due to a low back injury. The final score was 26 43.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) 62 60

(3) Venus Williams (USA) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 67(5) 62 75

(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Jelena Dokic (AUS) 26 43 ret. (low back injury)

(5) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 61 62

(7) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 60 62

(10) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Jill Craybas (USA) 61 64

(12) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) 61 64

Tathiana Garbin (ITA) d. (13) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 63 75

Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. (18) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 62 62

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. (21) Alizé Cornet (FRA) 63 62

(24) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. (Q) Petra Martic (CRO) 63 63

Melinda Czink (HUN) d. (28) Sybille Bammer (AUT) 46 63 108

(30) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 63 46 64

María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) d. Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) 36 63 63

Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (WC) Olivia Rogowska (AUS) 46 75 75

Jarmila Groth (AUS) d. (LL) Mariana Duque Marino (COL) 62 76(9)

Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) d. Alexa Glatch (USA) 76(0) 75

Sharapova wins in three sets; Safina into third round on Day 4 in Paris

Maria Sharapova proved to be back in her best form on Wednesday, after ousting compatriot Nadia Petrova in three tough sets, while No. 1 seed Dinara Safina easily won her match on Day 4 in Paris, France at the French Open.

Sharapova easily won the first set, then lost the second with a similar score. Even though Petrova was up 4-2 in the third set, and had points for 5-2, Sharapova shrieked her way through to win the match with a score of 62 16 86.

"She really showed, even though she has been out for a while, that she's willing to compete until the end," Petrova said. "I'm disappointed I didn't finish it off when I had everything in my hands. That's what I need to do to become a better player and win titles, go for my shots without doubts. But Maria showed she's a real champion. I really felt the confidence and power behind her shots."

"These types of matches are really important for me. I'm spending more time out there than I want to, but I'm learning so many new things as well," Sharapova said. "When you haven't played for such a long time and you're put in these situations, many things come back to you. This was a great match where I had to fight my way through many, many challenges, and I did."

Safina easily demolished Vitalia Diachenko with a score of 61 61.

No. 8 seed and defending champion Ana Ivanovic also won her match easily, against Tamarine Tanasugarn, 61 62.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (Q) Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 61 61

(8) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) 61 62

(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Kristina Barrois (GER) 76(1) 75

Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (11) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 62 16 86

(Q) Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) d. (15) Zheng Jie (CHN) 64 63

(20) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 61 60

(22) Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 62 64

(25) Li Na (CHN) d. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 61 64

(27) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Julie Coin (FRA) 62 76(2)

(29) Agnes Szavay (HUN) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 62 60

(32) Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 61 62

Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 76(5) 06 62

Aravane Rezai (FRA) d. (Q) Polona Hercog (SLO) 36 64 62

Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 63 67(3) 75

(Q) Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. (Q) Arantxa Rus (NED) 60 62

Suspended due to darkness

Lucie Safarova (CZE) leads (3) Venus Williams (USA) 76(5)