Serena Survives Scorching Temps in Melbourne

January 15, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Serena_01
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

In women’s singles action at the 2014 Australian Open, Serena Williams won her 60th career match win in the scorching Melbourne heat, tying her with Margaret Court, after Serena’s 6-1, 6-2 second round win over Serbia's Vesna Dolonc. The win gave Serena a lifetime 52-1 record in the second round of Grand Slams as she preps for round three and a meeting with the number 31 seed Daniela Hantuchova, who needed over three hours to defeat Karolina Pliskova, 6-3, 3-6, 12-10.

"I was happy just to get that win under my belt and have a chance to go to the next round," Serena said. "I think it was tough conditions out there. I think it keeps getting hotter and hotter. Every day is really hot. So it wasn't the plan, but it just so happened like that, and I'm happy to get through."

Serena leads Hantuchova 8-1 lifetime, with Hantuchova lone victory eight years ago in round three of the Aussie Open.

Italy’s Flavia Pennetta was a second round winner as well on Wednesday, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Monica Puig to set up a round three clash with German Mona Barthel, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 winner over Luksika Kumkhum.

The number four seed, China’s Li Na advanced as well, defeating 16-year-old Belinda Bencic from Switzerland, dominating the first set and holding on for a 6-0, 7-6(5) win. Awaiting Li in the third round is the 26th-seeded Lucie Safarova, a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0 winner over Lucie Hradecka. Li leads Safarova in their head-to-head series, 6-1, winning their last six matches in a row.

"Nobody says if you win the first set easily you can win the second set easily – that's why we play best of three sets," Li said. "She played very well. I think she gave me a very tough time at the end of the second set. But I was really happy that in the end I could use my experience and win the match."

Canadian Eugenie Bouchard also advanced to the third round in Melbourne, defeating Virginie Razzano 6-2, 7-6(10) in just under two hours.

"I was just in the moment, just trying to go for it,” said Bouchard. “She played some really good points on my match points too. It was a little back and forth. I felt overall I didn't play as well as I know I can. But, even if it's a bit ugly, you still have to fight and try your best. Yeah, I'm happy I pulled it through."

Bouchard will next face American Lauren Davis, a 7-2, 2-6, 6-4 upset winner over Germany’s Julia Goerges.

The 14th seeded Ana Ivanovic defeated Annika Beck, 6-1, 6-2 to move to the third round where she will face the 17th-seeded Samantha Stosur, a 6-2, 6-0 winner over Tsvetana Pironkova. Stosur leads Ivanovic in their head-to-head series, 4-3 and the third round winner will likely have a meeting impending with Serena in the fourth round.

"No secret it's going to be a tough match," Ivanovic said. "I had two tough matches last year against Sam. I lost one, won one. She's a tough player with a very strong game. I have to raise my level."

Click here to view the entire 2014 Australian Open Women's Singles draw.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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