Maria did not lose a set in the seven matches she won to take the title, and lost only two points on her serve in the 2nd set of the final. But,
"I don't think today was my best serving performance of the [tournament]. I think I served better against Lindsay [former # 1 Davenport] and Justine [current # 1 Henin]... But I did the things I needed to do in order to win the match. Whatever way I did it, at the end of the day, I won it...
"On one of the service games [in the 1st set] I forced the issue a little bit. We got new balls and I was hitting with the wind, and I think I just went for a little too much on my second serves.
"But I was also two points away from losing that first set and I served my way out of it. [Ana] got a little bit tight and also nervous because, I think, I was the one that was very close to losing that set. But I was just steady. I made her hit another ball, and it slipped away from her."
Unlike her previous Grand Slam final, last year at Roland Garros, where she was crushed, killed and destroyed by Justine Henin (6-1, 6-2), Ana was never out of the match.
"It was definitely a better experience. I won more games. It's a little bit disappointing because I thought I had a lot of chances in that first set but didn't use them. But it's a learning experience for me. I fought hard. I just felt a little bit let down with my forehand, made some big mistakes in crucial moments. So that wasn't something I was hoping for. But [Maria] played well and she had a great tournament...
page on the ausopen.org website disappeared in 2005. The continuing fall of the US dollar has resulted in a substantial loss of income for tourneys outside the US, because TV and sponsorship contracts pay the tourneys in US dollars. In 2005,
is paying good prize money, and should publish the amounts. Their website does say that
in Australian dollars (said to be an 18% increase over 2007 in US dollars), and that the
each. At the Jan 11, 2008 conversion rate, this is $1,220,259 US.
published at the ITF website. The conversions to US dollars (including the 2007 amounts) have been revised to the
Champions $446,020; Finalists $223,010; SFs $110,800; QFs $55,400; 3rd Round $31,245; 2nd Round $17,035; 1st Round $9,585
WTA SCOREBOARD: The Australian Open at Melbourne
2008: Last year's Australian Open finalist Maria Sharapova & champ Serena Williams practiced in Melbourne on Friday and Saturday, and met the press on Saturday... Indian # 1 Sania Mirza was also photograped practicing on Saturday... bottom: On Sunday, players who found time for final preparations included # 1 Justine Henin, Aussie favorite Alicia Molik, and last year's French Open finalist, Ana Ivanovic...
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Australian Open, 1st Rd, Mon-Tue 11am AO-TV windows media video highlights: Day 1 high - low
loser: (2007) $19,215 AUS = $17,114 US, 2 points
#1 s1 Justine Henin BEL d #70 Aiko Nakamura JPN 6-2, 6-2 Mon
Justine driving a forehand, and reaching for a backhand
Aiko, who put 71% of her 1st serves in the box, won 25 of those points, but won only 4 points on her 2nd serve (Justine: 54%, 22 points on 1st serve, 12 on 2nd). Justine hit 29 winners, with 21 unforced errors including 6 double faults (Aiko: 14 winners, 21 errors, 2 DFs). match stats
Justine said: "The conditions were quite difficult. It was a little bit windy and [Aiko] had a game that wasn't the easiest for me to start the tournament. She was hitting the ball pretty flat, and that wasn't easy. And it wasn't top spin at all. We did have to get used to the conditions and the rhythm, but after that it was much better. I took the net I little bit more [30 times in the match]. And always the first round is not my favorite one, so I'm glad it's behind me now." postmatch interview
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#2 s2 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #65 Nathalie Dechy FRA 6-3, 6-1 Tue
Nathalie congratulating Sveta after match point
Svetlana said: "I think it was pretty good match. It was slow start. It's different surface. It's slightly different than Sydney last week and it takes time to get used to it. But I started a little bit slow, and then I make it up better...
"I'm not watching the draw. I have no clue who is where. I know my next opponent. Sorry, guys, I'm pretty boring, but it's just very simple for me [smiling]. I'm just like that. I'm looking my next opponent. This is what I have to think of, not think which part I am...
"For me a very important thing. First thing for me is be a good person before being a good player, you know. Because even if I would be like first in the world, I would get everything, attention and everything, would win everything, and then you're a shit person it's not good.
"I think every like top player, we have great personality, like Justine, other girls. We are all like good people. For me it's very important." postmatch interview
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#3 s3 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #37 Tamira Paszek AUT 2-6, 6-2, 12-10 Mon ESPN highlight video
Jelena's forehand drive, and Tamira and Jelena driving backhands
The match lasted 3 hours and 9 minutes. Tamira held three match points against Jelena, but could not covert. Jelena, who was slowed somewhat by back pain, hit 45 winners, but had 66 unforced errors, including 14 double faults (Tamira: 42 winners, 59 errors, 9 DFs). match stats
Jelena said: "I was playing not so well today, and I had trouble finding my rhythm. And [Tamira] was really solid. And she was making me work very hard. But I was just trying to stay positive somehow and I found a way to win. It was unbelievable, when I was down those match points, and I was really in some tough points, and I was maybe lucky a few times. But overall, a win is a win...
"I have no problem anymore with my glut muscle [strained in Perth two weeks ago], but my back has been working very hard, so I've been getting stiff and getting treatments on that part. And that was what was bothering me today. Especially in the third set, I was getting very stiff. I was kind of restricted going one way, rotating my body... I received a treatment. I took some painkillers, and et cetera. So I managed to get through the match." postmatch interview
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#4 s4 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #107 Sorana Cirstea ROM 7-5, 6-3 Tue
Ana driving a forehand, Sorana's backhand drive, and Ana following a backhand slice or drop shot
#5 s5 Maria Sharapova RUS d #102 Jelena Kostanic Tosic CRO 6-4, 6-3 Mon
Maria following a slice serve, and Maria's backhand
Maria said: "I played a pretty tricky opponent, someone that I haven't played in a while. You know, the last couple matches that I played in Asia were against pretty big-hitting girls. So she was definitely a trickier opponent. Also a lefty. You don't see too many of those around these days. So I was prepared for it, but I was happy that I was able to follow through...
"[Feeling completely healthy is] pretty much impossible. I'm sure you know that. But shoulder-wise... for a few months now, I still have to do a lot of treatment on it daily, twice a day before I play and afterwards. But shoulder-wise I feel real good. postmatch interview
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#6 s6 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #91 Andrea Petkovic GER 0-0, 40-40 retired--right knee injury Tue
The trainer testing Andrea's knee, and Anna consoling Andrea
#7 s7 Serena Williams USA d #143 wc Jarmila Gajdosova AUS 6-3, 6-3 Mon
ESPN postmatch interview: # 7 s7 Serena Williams
Serena firing a cannonball
Serena said: "It definitely feels good to be back. I think I was a wee bit nervous out there. But it's good to be back... I think everyone could probably tell I was a little scratchy. But it's the first round. Just moving forward...
"The only thing I feel different [about the new Plexicushion courts, which have replaced the previous Rebound Ace] is it's not as bouncy, so I don't have to worry about tearing my ankle apart, so that works in my favor. Other than that, I don't feel that much of a difference." postmatch interview
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#8 s8 Venus Williams USA d #58 Zi Yan CHN 6-2, 7-5 Tue ESPN postmatch interview: Venus Williams
Venus firing a cannonball, and launching a forehand on the fly
#9 s9 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #108 Vania King USA 6-3, 7-5 Tue
Daniela's backhand drive
Daniela said: "It was very tight. I was really glad to get through in two sets. I mean, it was quite a big fight, especially in the second set. I thought Vania was playing very well. I was just pleased the way I hang in there and play the big points well. That was, I think, crucial today." interview fragment
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*#97 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #10 s10 Marion Bartoli FRA 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3 Tue
Sofia driving a forehand, Marion's backhand, and Sofia after match point
#11 s11 Elena Dementieva RUS d #79 Tzipora Obziler ISR 6-2, 6-2 Mon
#12 s12 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #59 Ioana Raluca Olaru ROM 6-3, 6-0 Mon
Nicole driving a backhand, and "reacting," as they say
#13 s13 Tatiana Golovin FRA d #113 Stephanie Cohen-Aloro FRA 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 Mon
Tatiana in her service toss motion
#14 s14 Nadia Petrova RUS d #75 Nicole Pratt AUS 6-1, 6-3 Tue
#15 s15 Patty Schnyder SUI d #90 Lilia Osterloh USA 6-3, 6-3 Mon
Patty demonstrating follow through
*#195 q Sabine Lisicki GER d #16 s16 Dinara Safina RUS 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2 Tue
Sabine getting a little elevation on her serve, Dinara and Sabine driving backhands, and Sabine's WTA profile pic, so you can recognize her on the street in Berlin
#17 s17 Shahar Peer ISR d #106 Renata Voracova CZE 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 Mon
#18 s18 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #94 Tatiana Poutchek BLR 6(6)-7, 6-0, 6-0 Mon
Amelie driving a forehand
#19 s19 Sybille Bammer AUT d #117 q Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 6(6)-7, 6-4, 6-2 Mon
Sybille meditating during a changeover
*#110 Ekaterina Makarova RUS d #20 s20 Agnes Szavay HUN 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 Tue
#21 s21 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #77 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS 6-4, 7-6(4) Tue
*#125 Catalina Castano COL d #22 s22 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-1, 6-4 Tue
*#38 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #23 s23 Vera Zvonareva RUS 6-3, 1-1 retired--left ankle injury Mon
Ai consoling Vera, who sprained her left ankle while practicing before the Hobart, Tasmania final on Friday
#24 s24 Na Li CHN d #109 Severine Bremond FRA 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 Tue
#25 s25 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #44 Emilie Loit FRA 6-3, 7-6(5) Mon
#26 s26 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #95 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB 6-2, 7-5 Mon
#27 s27 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #46 Meilen Tu USA 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 Tue
Meilen volleying a forehand, and Maria following a backhand
#28 s28 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #72 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 4-6, 6-0, 9-7 Tue
#29 s29 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #86 Olga Savchuk UKR 6-0, 6-1 Tue
#30 s30 Virginie Razzano FRA d #66 Ashley Harkleroad USA 6-3, 7-5 Mon
#31 s31 Sania Mirza IND d #317 wc Iroda Tulyaganova UZB 6-4, 6-2 Tue
Sania's strongest stroke, her forehand drive
*#60 Elena Vesnina RUS d #32 s32 Julia Vakulenko UKR 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 Mon
*#48 Akiko Morigami JPN d #33 Michaella Krajicek NED 6-2, 6-2 Tue
Akiko about to swat a forehand
#34 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #103 Petra Cetkovska CZE 7-6(1), 6-0 Mon
*#62 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #36 Gisela Dulko ARG 6-1, 6-1 Tue
Gisela driving a forehand, and Caroline following a serve
#39 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #49 Dominika Cibulkova SVK 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 Mon
#40 Tathiana Garbin ITA d #42 Eleni Daniilidou GRE 6-2, 6-2 Tue
*#67 Aravane Rezai FRA d #43 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR 7-6(4), 6-2 Mon
*#154 q Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #45 Shuai Peng CHN 7-5, 4-6, 9-7 Tue
*#93 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL d #47 Olga Govortsova BLR 6-1, 6-1 Tue
*#85 Casey Dellacqua AUS d #51 Karin Knapp ITA 4-6 6-3 8-6 Mon
Casey said: "The crowd was so good out there. And I absolutely loved playing on that court. It wasn't too big; it wasn't too small. It just felt really great. It was just such a great atmosphere. I really got the adrenaline going there in the third set. After the match, I couldn't stop shaking. It took me actually a little bit to settle down. I just had a shower, being able to calm down a little bit. So I'm just super excited." postmatch interview
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#52 Lindsay Davenport USA d #63 Sara Errani ITA 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 Mon
Lindsay lightly tapping a backhand
*#55 Pauline Parmentier FRA d #54 Martina Muller GER 7-5, 6-3 Tue
#56 Alize Cornet FRA d #400 sr Clarisa Fernandez ARG 6-3, 6-3 Tue
#57 Alicia Molik AUS d #73 Kaia Kanepi EST 7-6(4) 7-5 Mon
Alicia after match point
Former # 8 Alicia said: "I think it was a good match first up. Obviously, both sets were very close, and I had that Love-3 score line early in the first set, which didn't worry me too much, which I think is a good sign. I think I only missed a few balls by a few inches. I mean, [Kaia] jump-started me. That was one of my goals today, to come out swinging, come out very quick out of the box, which I did. I had a few game points and then I had a few breakpoints, as well. But I was pretty happy with the way that match went. Happy with the way I think I was advancing forward to the net. I think it's something I'd have to continue to do the next match." postmatch interview
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*#158 q Su-Wei Hsieh TPE d #61 Klara Zakopalova CZE 2-6, 6-4, 8-6 Mon
*#100 Jill Craybas USA d #68 Yung-Jan Chan TPE 6-4, 6-2 Mon
*#71 Yvonne Meusburger AUT d #69 Laura Granville USA 6-1, 6-4 Tue
*#80 Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP d #74 Roberta Vinci ITA 6-4, 6-4 Tue
#78 Anastasia Rodionova RUS d #160 q Angelika Bachmann GER 7-6(3), 6-4 Tue
*#83 Yaroslava Shvedova RUS d #81 Tatjana Malek GER 6-2, 6-2 Mon
#82 Anne Kremer LUX d #593 sr Evgenia Linetskaya RUS 7-6(8), 6-0 Tue
#84 Edina Gallovits ROM d #105 Stephanie Dubois CAN 7-6(7) 6-3 Mon
*#104 Mariya Koryttseva UKR d #87 Maria Emilia Salerni ARG 6-2, 6-3 Tue
#88 Angelique Kerber GER d #98 Maret Ani EST 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 Mon
#89 Camille Pin FRA d #155 q Monica Niculescu ROU 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 Tue
#92 Olga Poutchkova RUS d #148 wc Monique Adamczak AUS 6-4, 6-0 Mon
#96 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR d #229 wc Madison Brengle USA 7-5, 6-2 Mon
#99 Maria Elena Camerin ITA d #216 wc Christina Wheeler AUS 6-1, 6-2 Tue
Maria Elena driving a forehand
*#376 wc Jessica Moore AUS d #101 Julie Ditty USA 6-3, 6-2 Mon
*#164 q Sandra Kloesel GER d #115 q Julia Schruff GER 6-1, 6(1)-7, 6-4 Mon
#120 q Timea Bacsinszky SUI d #176 wc Sophie Ferguson AUS 6-4, 6-3 Tue
#122 q Meng Yuan CHN d #211 q Ekaterina Ivanova RUS 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 Mon
Meng after winning a point
*#145 q Marta Domachowska POL d #135 wc Mathilde Johansson FRA 6-1, 6-1 Tue
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Australian Open, 2nd Rd, Wed-Thu 11am
loser: (2007) $29,890 AUS = $26,623 US, US 60 points
#1 s1 Justine Henin BEL d #92 Olga Poutchkova RUS 6-1, 7-5 Wed
Justine's textbook-form backhand drive and backhand volley, and Olga congratulating Justine after match point
Justine said: "I played a good first set, actually. I was well into the match and played very aggressive and I did a good job in the first.
"And then lost a little bit of the intensity, a little bit of the rhythm on my serve. Then I was leading 5-2 and then she came back and didn't move her... it wasn't good enough at that time to finish the match.
"And then when she came back at 5-All. I understood it was time to push myself a little bit more. And I know in the next round it's going to be a good match for me to push myself and really come to another level." postmatch interview
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#2 s2 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #93 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL 7-6(0), 6-2 Thu
Svetlana following a forehand, Tsvetana driving one, and Sveta's backhand
About the 1st set, Svetlana said: "I didn't start well, definitely, and I've been missing it up, and [Tsvetana was] playing pretty good. And then I was getting a bit tighter and I still didn't play my game. But when I was down 5-2, 5-3, I felt I'm just not doing the things. I think I just tried to put more balls in play and tried to make rallies long. So she's not very consistent, so I wanted to play with her." postmatch interview
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#3 s3 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #84 Edina Gallovits ROM 6-2, 7-5 Wed
Edina lining up a backhand, and Jelena answering a drop shot with a drop shot, smashing an overhead, and driving a backhand
#4 s4 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #40 Tathiana Garbin ITA 6-0, 6-3 Thu
Ana driving a forehand, and after winning a point
#5 s5 Maria Sharapova RUS d #52 Lindsay Davenport USA 6-1, 6-3 Wed
Maria serving, Lindsay running down a forehand, Maria's forehand drive, Lindsay driving a backhand, Maria after match point, and Lindsay congratulating Maria
Both players put 67% of their 1st serves in the box. But Maria won 86% of her 1st serve points, while Lindsay won 62%. Maria broke Lindsay's serve four times on ten break points, while Lindsay never reached a break point against Maria. Maria played a very clean match, hitting 26 winners with only 12 unforced errors including just 1 double fault (Lindsay: 10 winners, 16 errors, 3 DFs). match stats
2007 Aussie Open finalist (and 2004 Wimbledon & 2006 US Open champ) Maria said: "Tell you the truth, I approached it like it's a final. Ever since I took a peek at the draw and saw that Lindsay was second round."
1998 US Open, 1999 Wimbledon & 2000 Australian Open champ Lindsay said: "You probably don't get to see too many second rounds where you see two Grand Slams champions, former No. 1s playing against each other. The buildup to the match, the excitement, the showtime--I love that. As an athlete, that's what you play for... The key was starting off well, and I really didn't do that." AP story
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#6 s6 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #154 q Alisa Kleybanova RUS 6-3, 6-4 Thu
Anna's backhand drive and volley
#7 s7 Serena Williams USA d #122 q Meng Yuan CHN 6-3, 6-1 Wed
Serena following a forehand, asking her Wilson K Factor KBlade Team 104" "What was that?", and driving a backhand
#8 s8 Venus Williams USA d #89 Camille Pin FRA 7-5, 6-4 Thu
Camille driving a forehand, and Venus lining up a backhand
Venus said: "Definitely got to hit a lot of balls. [Camille] plays a really feisty game, brings a lot of balls back, and a lot of balls low. And she was definitely on her best tennis today. So she played well." postmatch interview
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#9 s9 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #56 Alize Cornet FRA 6-2, 7-5 Thu
Daniela's forehand drive, Alize driving a backhand, and Daniela after winning a point
#11 s11 Elena Dementieva RUS d #34 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 Wed
Elena lining up a slice backhand, and after match point
#12 s12 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #57 Alicia Molik AUS 6-2, 6-3 Wed
Alicia's forehand, Nicole volleying a backhand, and after match point
Alicia said: "Nicole played great. She served out of a tree today, not just first serves but second serves as well. I guess that's the best serve I've played against in the last six to nine months out of all the tournaments I've played. She got a lot of free points off of herself, a lot of aces, as well. I was playing catchup basically from the first set. I felt like I got myself nicely into the second set. She's a quality opponent, so you give someone a good scoreline to run away with, and she's too good not to." postmatch interview
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*#67 Aravane Rezai FRA d #13 s13 Tatiana Golovin FRA 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Wed
#14 s14 Nadia Petrova RUS d #82 Anne Kremer LUX 7-5, 7-5 Thu
Anne and Nadia driving backhands, and Nadia after match point
*#85 Casey Dellacqua AUS d #15 s15 Patty Schnyder SUI 4-6, 7-5, 8-6 Wed
Patty and Casey driving backhands, and Casey after match point
Casey said: "I think there's a few things. I think mentally I was strung out there today, even if I was 6‑4, 3‑Love down I kind of went off my game plan I have been through with my coaches, with Dave.
"I said to myself, Just go back to basics. Let's go to the process. So we spoke about what I needed to do. Yeah, I pretty much went back to that, and then I should have just stuck with that the whole time and, yeah, it worked.
"In the end I just mentally hung in there as tough as I could, and was able to eventually get the break and then serve it out." postmatch interview
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#17 s17 Shahar Peer ISR d #376 wc Jessica Moore AUS 6-0, 7-5 Wed
Shahar spinning a forehand
#18 s18 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #83 Yaroslava Shvedova RUS 6-4, 7-6(5) Wed
Amelie's backhand drive
Amelie led 5-1 in the 2nd set. Amelie said: "I probably got a little bit tight in that moment and really wasn't able to finish that match off. I really think the lack of confidence showed a little bit, lack of playing matches and being in that position a little bit more often the last few months, last year even. The tension got to me at that moment, so after that I was just happy that I could finish it still in that second set. But it was little bit of a pity because the whole match was very good." postmatch interview
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*#158 q Su-Wei Hsieh TPE d #19 s19 Sybille Bammer AUT 6-2, 6-0 Wed c6 m4
*#62 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #21 s21 Alona Bondarenko UKR 7-6(4) 6-1 Thu
Caroline driving a forehand, and Alona's backhand
#24 s24 Na Li CHN d #99 Maria Elena Camerin ITA 6-4, 6-3 Thu
Maria Elena about to slice a backhand, and Na's forehand drive
Na reached # 16 in the WTA singles rankings last January, the highest ranking ever achieved by a Chinese player. But she fractured a rib in June, and when she prepared to return to play later in the year, fractured it again, forcing her to sit out the rest of the season. Na is likely feeling better now: she is 7-0 in 2008.
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#25 s25 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #88 Angelique Kerber GER 6-2, 6-3 Wed
Angelique while driving a backhand, Fresca volleying one, and after match point
#26 s26 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #164 q Sandra Kloesel GER 6-1, 6-1 Wed
Victoria serving, and driving a forehand
#27 s27 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #48 Akiko Morigami JPN 6-1, 6-1 Thu
Maria following forehand and backhand
Maria put 69% of her 1st serves in the box; Akiko did almost as well, with 62%. But Maria won a whopping 78% of her 1st serve points, as well as 67% of her 2nd serve points (Akiko: 36% and 53%). Maria also scored on every trip she made to the net, 11 for 11, and hit 18 winners with only 15 unforced errors including 2 double faults (Akiko: 5 of 10, 11 W, 24 E, 1 DF). match stats
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#28 s28 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #78 Anastasia Rodionova RUS 6-4, 6-1 Thu
Anastasia and Katarina driving backhands
#29 s29 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #55 Pauline Parmentier FRA 7-5, 6-4 Thu
#30 s30 Virginie Razzano FRA d #39 Flavia Pennetta ITA 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 Wed
Virginie's backhand drive
#31 s31 Sania Mirza IND d #120 q Timea Bacsinszky SUI 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 Thu
Sania running down a backhand, and after match point
Sania said: "I think I was playing very well. In the first set obviously I wasn't really giving [Timea] chances, and I started off by winning about six points in a row...
"In the second set it was fine till about 4-All, 40-30. I was serving and I think I made a double fault, if I'm not mistaken, or it was a bad miss or something. And suddenly, we're all quality players, and if you let someone in... I think I played a couple of bad games, maybe a lapse of concentration or whatever.
"I think in the third set, she was there. She was in the match till the end." postmatch interview
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#38 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #96 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR 6-4, 6-4 Wed
#60 Elena Vesnina RUS d #100 Jill Craybas USA 6-2, 6-4 Wed
There were no good match photos of Elena on Wednesday, but on Thursday she showed tons of pretty at Brighton beach near Melbourne
*#110 Ekaterina Makarova RUS d #71 Yvonne Meusburger AUT 6-3, 6-1 Thu
Ekaterina following a twist serve, and Yvonne driving a backhand
#80 Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP d #125 Catalina Castano COL 6-2, 6-4 Thu
Vivi possibly volleying a backhand (she drives 1-handed too), and Catalina driving one
*#145 q Marta Domachowska POL d #97 Sofia Arvidsson SWE 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 Thu
*#195 q Sabine Lisicki GER d #104 Mariya Koryttseva UKR 6-1, 7-5 Thu
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Sisters Serena and Venus Williams apparently discussing the relative advantages of Ricola and Hall's while defeating Monique Adamczak and Christine Wheeler in the 1st round of doubles on Thursday |
Australian Open, 3rd Rd, Fri-Sat
loser: (2007) $49,100 AUS = $43,733 US, 90 points
#1 s1 Justine Henin BEL d #25 s25 Francesca Schiavone ITA 7-5, 6-4 Fri
Justine picking up a low forehand, Fresca and Justine showing the good straight elbow on backhand volleys, and Justine after winning the first set
Justine said: "Francesca is always a tough player, tough opponent, and I knew that. So I'm happy, because I had pretty good reactions when I had to. I knew it was going to be a good fight. Physically she's very strong and she's running a lot. She has put a lot of spin. So different kind of game than what we used to play against the other players. For me that was interesting, so I'm happy about this win." postmatch interview
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*#29 s29 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #2 s2 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 6-3, 6-4 Sat
Agnieszka slicing a serve Svetlanaward, Sveta's backhand, Agnieszka fielding a forehand, and after match point
Svetlana coverted only 2 of 4 break points against Agnieszka, while Agnieszka converted 4 of the 11 she held against Sveta. Agnieszka hit 19 winners with just 17 unforced errors for the match; Svetlana: 23 winners, 36 errors. match stats
Last year, Agnieszka defeated then # 2 Maria Sharapova in the 3rd round of the US Open, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.
Agnieszka said: "I'm very excited and happy. I lost against [Svetlana] a few times already, but it was very close, 6-3 in the third and 6-4 in the third. Finally I did it. I beat her... I was playing many matches against top players, so I know how to play. I have to play aggressive and try my best even if I'm losing 3-Love." postmatch interview
Svetlana said: "It's pretty simple. I think I beat myself up out there, so I didn't do much, right things. I was just playing within myself, and I lost the match and this is it... It wasn't about [Agnieszka's] game. She played well, but I was not doing anything to win the match. And playing like this, I think I deserve to lose today...
"I was feeling fine. It's the way I was thinking on the game. The way I prepare for the game and everything, it wasn't right. I've got to learn to do it right way next time during Grand Slams. It's lots of pressure. I got to handle it and got to play well and do it differently. Otherwise, it will happen to me many times." postmatch interview
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#3 s3 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #30 s30 Virginie Razzano FRA 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 Fri
Jelena driving a forehand, volleying a backhand, and after winning a point
Jelena said: "I managed to get this match. I should have finished in two sets, but I completely lost my concentration end of the second, and I also got very tired and I wasn't thinking about what I had to do in order to win. I was just completely kind of my mind stopped and I was tired.
"And then somehow, it was a crucial point of the match when I was down Love-1 in the third, when I played that long game, managed to win that one, and then I kind of started to have energy and just went along in the third set...
"[Virginie] was starting to play very, very well, and especially at the end of the second set she was going for her shots. She got her confidence back and I went down. My level of tennis went down and I wasn't playing the right shots. I stopped moving my feet. I completely lost my strategy. And then in the third set I started to get back. I started to refocus again." postmatch interview
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#4 s4 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #28 s28 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 6-3, 6-4 Sat
Ana and Katarina driving forehand and backhand, Ana following another forehand, and Katarina congratulating Ana after match point
Ana said: "Coming into today's match, I knew [Katarina] was a tough opponent and I just had to keep my composure and fight for every point, and that's exactly what I did today. I think this was a big step and good win for me today...
"I played really well, and I was serving very well. That was a big point today, because she was serving extremely well, especially in the second set. I was happy to get an early break and get my serve in." postmatch interview
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#5 s5 Maria Sharapova RUS d #60 Elena Vesnina RUS 6-3, 6-0 Fri
Maria's service toss, Elena's forehand drive, Maria's backhand, and Elena congratulating Maria after match point
Maria said: "I started off a little bit slow. I was trying to figure out [Elena's] game. We never played before, only in practice. It took a few games, I think six games, to really find my game as well.
"I really tried to keep the intensity I had in the previous match, take it to this one, but that's always difficult. But after the 3-All game I thought I did a good job of stepping up and playing good...
"I think I returned well today. I've been returning well throughout the last couple of matches. That's pretty important, especially against big servers. Especially in the beginning of the match she served pretty well, and didn't give me too many looks at second serves, but I was able to take advantage from the first point." postmatch interview
About playing Fed Cup for Russia against Israel the weekend following the Australian Open, Maria said: "I'm looking forward to the team experience, and also visiting Israel for the first time."
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*#27 s27 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #6 s6 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 6-7(6) 6-1 6-2 Sat
Maria delivering a cannonball, Anna spinning a forehand, Maria following a backhand, and after match point
Maria won the Beijing title in late 2005, and her ranking reached # 20 shortly thereafter. She then had a bit of a slump through 2006 and much of 2007. But late last year her game picked up: she won the Kolkata title, reached the Seoul final, and won an ITF title in Dubai in December.
The match was a bit sloppy. Anna delivered 28 winners, but had 54 unforced errors, with 9 double faults; Maria hit 17 winners, but had 30 unforced errors (including 4 DFs). Anna converted only 1 of 3 break points against Maria in the match; Maria coverted 6 of 15 break points against Anna. match stats
Maria said: "I know [Anna] from small age. Like we practiced in the same club and also was quite friendly. I couldn't say that we're like best friends, but good friends... I was always the best, like when I was small. Like in juniors every time. Then like last two years she had very successful, like wins everything, so she became like top 10 player.
"To be honest, like I was little bit surprised, because from the small age I never thought that she could play as good as like she's playing. It's good for her. She always practiced a lot, I remember. And she always has a good character, like she's like fight and like angry on the court. I think it's helped her a lot, you know. It's good that I won today. I'm happy...
"It's not really easy to play against her because she playing quite deep and she has good hands. But today I felt like I was running good, and it was like the key, also. And I felt like I'm strong, you know, like I can run, you know, like I can play the ball like how I want, not just hitting. I tried to change... I think it's also help, because she likes to play when someone is hitting. She just, like make running the opponent." postmatch interview
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#7 s7 Serena Williams USA d #26 s26 Victoria Azarenka BLR 6-3, 6-4 Fri
Victoria driving a forehand, Serena's backhand, and Victoria congratulating Serena after match point
Serena said: "I definitely served well today. It was much better than what I did my other two rounds, so it's looking good. I like it...
"I think [Victoria] played really well off the ground, and she moved well, which is always good to be able to hit hard and move well. I thought she had a lot of pace on her balls, too." postmatch interview
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#8 s8 Venus Williams USA d #31 s31 Sania Mirza IND 7-6(0), 6-4 Sat
Venus serving, Sania and Venus driving backhands, Sania running down a forehand, and Venus after match point
Venus said: "I felt good with how I played. I felt confident throughout the whole match. I think [Sania] played quite well, too. I think she had an interesting game plan: As soon as she got her racquet on the ball, she just hit it as hard as she could and went for broke. I think that worked for her on a lot of points...
"I think she's known for the power of her groundstrokes. I think if I chose, also, I could strike it hard every time, also. But there's different strategies against different players, and that's the strategy she chose against me. I think it worked well, but I think ultimately I had a little bit more than her, and that helped me in the end." postmatch interview
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#9 s9 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #80 Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP 6-2, 6-3 ppd-Sun
Daniela's backhand drive and follow through, and after match point
#11 s11 Elena Dementieva RUS d #17 s17 Shahar Peer ISR 6-2, 6-0 Fri
Elena driving a forehand, and after match point
#12 s12 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #38 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-3, 6-4 Fri
Nicole volleying a backhand, Ai's best shot, her backhand drive, and Nicole after winning a point
This match was very close; Nicole broke Ai's serve only twice in five opportunities; Ai failed to break Nicole's serve once, although she held seven break points against her. Nicole fired 6 aces with only 2 double faults; she totaled 33 unforced errors, but she hit 31 winners (Ai: 0 aces, 6 DFs, 18 E, 10 W). match stats
About her performance, Nicole said: "A little shaky, I guess. A little nervous. Really wanted to do well, play well. But [Ai] played good. Definitely very steady player. Made a lot of opportunities for herself. So just happy I got through...
"I guess every match, every Grand Slam, every tough match you get more experience. You know how to handle the situations a little better. I think it helps obviously, especially when you play a top girl who has many more matches and many more tournaments under her belt. You can try to use that now a little bit also...
"Definitely this week I'm happy with the way I served. I've been working on that. Helped me out a lot of times these last couple matches, so happy with that." postmatch interview
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#14 s14 Nadia Petrova RUS d #110 Ekaterina Makarova RUS 6-1, 7-6(8) ppd-Sun
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