Russian crushes the former champion 6-1, 6-3 in the third round of Australian Open
A rampant Maria Sharapova blitzed American Venus Williams yesterday as she led a parade of top women’s seeds into the fourth round of the Australian Open.u00a0The Russian second seed crushed the veteran American 6-1, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena and has now won 36 of the 40 games she has played at the opening Grand Slam of the season.
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Maria Sharapova reacts after beating Venus Williams in the third round in Melbourne yesterday. PIC/AFP
None of the top names was troubled with Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber and Li Na all progressing.u00a0Seeded four, five and six respectively, they were joined by Ana Ivanovic, who won a battle of former World No 1s by beating fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic.u00a0Sharapova, who lifted the trophy at Melbourne Park in 2008 and was beaten in the final last year by Victoria Azarenka, next plays Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, who overcame Russian qualifier Valeria Savinykh.
The World No 2 has been in irresistible form, becoming the first person to score two ‘double bagel’ 6-0, 6-0 Grand Slam wins in a row since 1985 in her opening two matches.u00a0She failed to make it three against Williams, but gave it her best shot.u00a0“We know each other’s games very well,” she said. “A lot of it is about executing from our own sides. I thought I did a good job of what I had in my head and what I wanted to accomplish out there today,” she added.
Williams is only seeded 25 as she makes her way back from injury and illness, but was completely outplayed.u00a0“I just had a lot of errors, that never helps,” said the 32-year-old, who vowed to keep improving.u00a0Her sister Serena, along with World No 1 Azarenka, play their third round matches today. u00a0While Sharapova is looking unbeatable, Poland’s Radwanska is the form player this year, winning her 12th match in a row without dropping a set in her best ever start to a season.
The World No 4 proved too strong for Britain’s Heather Watson in a 6-3, 6-1 thumping as she searches for her first Grand Slam title.u00a0“I think I’ve never won 12 matches in a row,” the Pole said. u00a0“It was my first time I played Auckland and Sydney and it was a good start. I can’t complain,” she added.u00a0Radwanska, who won lead-up tournaments in Auckland and Sydney, next faces 13th seed Ivanovic who eased past Jankovic 7-5, 6-3.
Ivanovic won the French Open title in 2008, but has failed to make any significant impact at a Grand Slam since. But she proved too much for Jankovic, who has also struggled to recapture her best form in recent years.u00a0Ivanovic said she has worked hard to lose weight and build strength.u00a0“I’m happy to see the results, and I definitely move a lot better and faster,” she said.u00a0
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