Serena gets into semis with Venus; both will face Russians

No. 2 seed Serena Williams and No. 3 seed Venus Williams easily advanced to the semifinals, and they both got one step closer to playing eachother in the final again. But first, Venus should beat top seed Dinara Safina, who went to three sets against Sabine Lisicki, and Serena should beat No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva, who ousted Francesca Schiavone in straight sets.

Serena wasn't challenged by opponent Victoria Azarenka, who is the No. 8 seed, and easily won with a score of 62 63.

Venus had an even easier time on court, and easily reserved a spot in the semis after winning to No. 11 seed Agnieszka Radwanska 61 62.

"Do I feel invincible? I'd like to say yes, but I really do work at it," Williams said. "That first set for me was almost perfect. In the second set I got impatient the first couple of games, but I was able to bring it back and realized I had to hit a few more balls, because everyone lifts their game, especially after that first set."

Dementieva also easily won, to Schiavone, 62 62; and Safina battled against Lisicki, and won with a score of 67(5) 64 61.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Singles - Quarterfinals

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Sabine Lisicki (GER) 67(5) 64 61

(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. (8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 62 63

(3) Venus Williams (USA) d. (11) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 61 62

(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 62 62

Venus, Serena advance easily; Safina gets challenged, wins in three sets on Day 7 in London

No. 13 seed Ana Ivanovic went home in tears after retiring due to a left thigh injury to No. 3 seed and defending champion Venus Williams, while top seed Dinara Safina went to three sets against 2006 Wimbledon champion and No. 17 seed Amelie Mauresmo on the second Monday at London.

Venus was leading the match with a score of 61 01, when the Serbian could play no more.

"I don't know the last time I won in these circumstances - I don't think ever in a Slam. She was in a lot of pain," Williams said. "I'm one of those players who only pays attention to what's going on on their side of the net, but today I felt really sad for her. She was really upset. This is the last place you want to have an injury you can't overcome. I wish her a lot of luck in her recovery."

"When I was serving 30-40 down in that first game, after my first serve, I felt a sharp pain on my inner thigh when I landed," Ivanovic said. "I couldn't step on my leg ever since. It was really disappointing, especially since I felt my form was getting better. I'll just have to look forward to my next tournament."

Venus' sister Serena, the No. 2 seed, was in perfect form, and demolished Daniela Hantuchova, 63 61.

Safina was struggling against her French opponent, but managed to take control and won 46 63 64.


Monday, June 29, 2009

Singles - Fourth Round
(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (17) Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) 46 63 64
(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 63 61
(3) Venus Williams (USA) d. (13) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 61 01 ret. (left thigh injury)
(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 61 63
(8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (10) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 76(5) 26 63
Sabine Lisicki (GER) d. (9) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 64 64
(11) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (Q) Melanie Oudin (USA) 64 75
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. (26) Virginie Razzano (FRA) 62 76(1)

Jankovic, Kuznetsova crushed; Venus, Dinara advance on Day 6 at Wimbledon

No. 6 seed Jelena Jankovic was on the loser list on Saturday in London, as she was ousted by 17-year-old qualifier Melanie Oudin of the USA in three tough sets, while No. 5 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova also didn't make it to the second week, being crushed by Sabine Lisicki in straight sets. Defending champion Venus Williams advanced.

Jankovic had a very tight first set against Oudin, which she won, but the Serb wasn't good enough to win the second set. The third set wasn't hard for Oudin to win, and she succeeded in winning, 67(8) 75 62.

"I had so many chances in the first set so I knew I was right there with her. I just had to keep going and keep fighting, and eventually I pulled through in the end," Oudin, just 17 years old, said. "I just tried to think she was any other player and this was any other match and I was at any other tournament, not that I was on the biggest stage at Wimbledon and playing my first Top 10 player."

Kuznetsova saved lots of match points at 5-2 in the second set against Lisicki, but the Russian lost anyway, with a score of 62 75.

No. 3 seed Williams faced Carla Suarez Navarro on Day 6, and easily won, 60 64, getting revenge after an Australian Open loss earlier this year.

"It was completely different circumstances today. In Australia, I had a lot of opportunities but didn't take advantage of them. Today I realized it wasn't the same match, and I was determined to really run away with it," Williams said. "In the end it got closer, but I love to have the opportunity to serve matches out, so I was pretty glad to get that break. I'm happy with how things turned out."

Top seed Dinara Safina also went through, after defeating Kirsten Flipkens, 75 61.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Singles - Third Round

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 75 61

(3) Venus Williams (USA) d. Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 60 64

Sabine Lisicki (GER) d. (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 62 75

(Q) Melanie Oudin (USA) d. (6) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 67(8) 75 62

(9) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (20) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)62 62

(11) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (19) Li Na (CHN) 64 75

(13) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. (18) Samantha Stosur (AUS) 75 62

(17) Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) d. (15) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 75 63

Williams cruises through; Zvonareva retires with injury on Day 5 in London

No. 2 seed Serena Williams was on fire on Day 5 of the third Grand Slam of the year, as she easily advanced after winning in straight sets to an easy opponent, while Vera Zvonareva was forced to retire from her match without playing a point.

Williams was in perfect form against Roberta Vinci, as won the match with a score of 63 64.

No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva was also on a roll, as the Russian ousted qualifier Regina Kulikova, 61 62.

No. 7 seed Zvonareva was going to play No. 26 seed Virginie Razzano for a spot in the fourth round and second week of Wimbledon, but withdrew due to an ankle injury.

No. 8 seed Victoria Azarenka was a bit challenged by No. 28 seed Sorana Cirstea, but the Belarussian found her way through, and won with a score of 76(2) 63.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Singles - Third Round

(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. Roberta Vinci (ITA) 63 64

(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (Q) Regina Kulikova (RUS) 61 62

(26) Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. (7) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) w/o (right ankle injury)

(8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (28) Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 76(2) 63

(10) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 36 63 64

Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. (12) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 76(5) 60

Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. (14) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 75 46 64

Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 64 63