Williams battles through again
AAP Wednesday 14 January 2009
Serena Williams showed her love of a scrap again Wednesday night, fending off three match points against unheralded Caroline Wozniacki to advance to the semi-finals of the Medibank International Sydney.
Three days after staring down four match points in a first round clash with Australian Sam Stosur, Williams hung tough once more, ousting the Dane 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The angular Wozniacki, who rocketed from No.64 to No.12 in the rankings last season, served for the match at 6-5 in the third set but much like Stosur stiffened as a famous result beckoned.
Williams’ win sets up a semi-final against Russian Elena Dementieva on Thursday.
Unlike the stylised shots used by both women in their WTA profiles, this wasn’t always pretty but it was compulsive viewing as the pair interspersed some slick groundshots with errors at critical times.
After her first round arm wrestle, followed by a straight-sets stroll in the park over Sara Errani, it was difficult to get a read on the form of the younger Williams sister.
But some erratic shotmaking and not always stellar court movement suggested she still had some work to do if she’s to add to her three titles at Melbourne Park.
There was however no doubt about the trademark fight of the nine-time grand slam champion.
Wozniacki started strongly and while failing to capitalise on two breaks in the first set, was too consistent for Williams in the tiebreaker.
Williams raced ahead to a 5-2 lead in second but still couldn’t close it out, having her serve broken before breaking straight back to take the match into a decider.
Wozniacki had her share of moments in the third set but couldn’t capitalise on a 2-0 advantage or the three match points she secured on serve at 6-5.
Tags: Caroline Wozniacki, Serena Williams
25 Comments
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January 14th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
good job serena…
but it will be very difficult task against dementieva..
she had won the last two matches..
i rather pick dementieva to go trough to final…
January 14th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
C’mon Serena!!! You always are the BEST!!! Super final tiebreak!!! Good luck for tomorrow!!!
January 14th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
So close. I think Caroline is ready to be a top 10 player. Hope she will do well in australian open..
January 14th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
What a match! I’m almost as tired as the two opponents.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
IN MY OPINION SERENA HASNT PLAYED MUCH TENNIS SINCE THE US OPEN SO I THINK SHE IS HAVING A HARD TIME BEING CONSISTENT
January 14th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
i think as long as serena isn’t injured she can just about scrap out any match. that’s one of the intangibles that you can’t teach, mental toughness and killer instinct.
January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
A very exciting night at the tennis. Carolone Wozniacki is a star of the future - maybe the next two weeks.
January 15th, 2009 at 12:24 am
Next time Caroline will top Serena.
Caroline is the light in the tunnel for North Europe. She is by far tne coolest teenis woman I have seen for long…..next time she will handle the preassure to be ahead on match point!
What I think she should consentrate on are; She need to practice her stopshuts, volley and lobs besides to keep on practise her serve. It would feel good for her to be able to be more comfortable on her first serve.
Bjorn Eklund/
Swedish-American
January 15th, 2009 at 12:27 am
OK, do what ever moderation you feel,
Bjorn
January 15th, 2009 at 2:38 am
What a pity Caroline..You got it done..But don´t be sad,you did your best and I´m proud of you!! Hope you´ll have a great performance at the Australian Open dear!!
January 15th, 2009 at 3:12 am
Wht is the Serena williams matches not seen on our
TV IN THE Buffalo NY area?
Hope that you can answer!
January 15th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Serena is getting match tough for Melbourne Park, but She has to defeat big sis Venus Ebony Star! Who is planning to win all GS that has eluded her, that’s my take.
CPR
January 15th, 2009 at 5:14 am
Welldone Serena, you showed your mental strength. but today I saw a new star on the court. Go Caroline…!
January 15th, 2009 at 5:46 am
Go Serena!!!!!!!!!
January 15th, 2009 at 6:30 am
super tare, se vede cine e felina, ragnetul le sperie pe adversare, ce mai, un monument al naturii, as ate vreau common Serene
January 15th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Serena seemed to be struggling with an injury of some sort and was certainly not playing her trade mark best tennis. Well done to the little girl from Denmark who looks like she has a big future in tennis.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:33 am
How is Caroline Wozniacki ‘unheralded’?
she is no 12 in the world and won 3 titles in 2008 -
January 15th, 2009 at 9:26 am
hopefully this will be a good thing for serena!
January 15th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I was unimpressed with Serena’s poor sportwomanship when in the first set against Caroline Wozniacki,serena stopped hitting the ball and called the ball out. It is my understanding that any player must continue to play the ball irrespective of what the player may think of it being out until the umpire declares the ball out. Fortunately Caroline won the first set but it wasnt fair play from Serena who declared herself both umpire and player when she is clearly a player only.
It was disappointing experience to watch and all credit to Caroline who got on with the job and didnt provide any sign of histrionics that Serena displayed throughout the entire match.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Go..Go.. Serena! I saw live in TV, She still kept survive, looking forward for the championship
January 15th, 2009 at 11:42 am
What an outstanding game by Caroline and she showed a great controlled spirit in the way she played, outstanding. Think on the night she was the better player but luck was not on her side.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I almost got a heart attack. Thx God Serena won… I think she’s gonna play great againts Elena, and will beat Dinara in the final. Go Serena!
January 15th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Mike, I thought that Serena was challenging, she was just trying to get the ump to overrule first since that’s her job. It was Caroline’s inexperience that led her to challenge a point she’d already won.
January 17th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Thank you Serena. You are as good as any 18 year olds. Bring it on.
January 18th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I think that Caroline has to work at beeing stronger mentally at important moments in the matches against top 10 players. When she has that strength she will be the biggest female star of Scandinavian tennis ever! She can take it all! Go Caroline.