Thursday, January 22, 2009

Venus falls in second round of Australian Open

According to many experts, Venus Williams was primed to win her first Australian Open title. She did some serious training for it in the off-season, and she has been playing extremely well. I also considered her a major contender.

But in the second round, Williams faced one of those players who is very, very talented, but also very streaky. On a good day, Carla Suarez Navarro can do just about anything, and yesterday, she had a good day, coming back from 1-4 in the third set, and saving a match point. She defeated Williams 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Venus's sister had her work cut out for her, too, playing a determined and aggressive Gisela Dulko, and dealing with a hurt ankle. She got through, thanks to Dulko's nerves and her own champion's attitude, but now there are questions: How is the ankle? Can she lift the level of her game? Her next opponent is Peng Shuai, and that should be a win for her, but after that, she faces either Vicotoria Azarenka or Amelie Mauresmo.

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