Former World No.1s Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, both continued to impress in Auckland, posting straight sets wins over Kurumi Nara and Taylor Townsend. Over in Brisbane, Ana Ivanovic opened up her 2015 campaign in dominant style, by easing past Aussie Jarmila Gajdosova. Grgior Dimitrov meanwhile nearly lost his first match of the new season, eventually battling through in 3 sets against Jeremy Chardy. The talented Bulgarian had to save 2 MPs, before overcoming the Frenchman. Novak Djokovic kept up his cool start to the year, by cruising past Ukraine’s Sergei Stakhovsky in 2 sets.
WTA Auckland: Day 3 Wed, 2nd rd
Venus bt Nara 6-4, 6-1 & Wozniacki bt Townsend: 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
It was yet another walk in the park for the legendary Venus Williams, as she dominated her opponent Kurumi Nara. Williams was not as impressive as in her opening match, but still had way too much power for the Japanese pocket-rocket.
Early on it was the experience of Venus which stood tall, as he twice broke Nara for the lead. But both times, Nara came back and levelled it and was soon up 4-3 in exactly half and hour.
But Venus kept calm,cool and collective and soon wrapped up the opening set by 6-4, before wiping the floor with Nara 6-1 in the 2nd set.
It was also a good day in the office for the Great Dane- Caroline Wozniacki. The tenacious 24 year old cruised past rising American star Taylor Townsend, 6-1 in the first set.
But the youthful energy and exuberance of Townsend began to flourish in the 2nd set, as she raced to a healthy 5-2 lead.
However they don’t call Wozniacki Miss resilient for nothing and she showed that in buckets, by clawing her way back to 5-4. Townsend then had the opportunity to serve it out at 5-4, with 3 set points coming her way. But they failed to materialise in the way she wanted them to and Caro broke back for 5-5.
In the end Wozniacki took it to a tie-break, where she steadied herself enough to, wrap up proceeding by 7- points to 4.
Day 3 results:
Zahlavova Strycova bt Erakovic: 6-0, 2-6, 6-4
Vandeweghe bt Flipkens: 6-1, 6-7 (7-9), 7-5
Vesnina bt Konjuh (CRO): 6-3, 6-1
Davis bt Stephens: 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
U Radwanska bt Hantuchova: 1-6, 6-3, 6-1
Goerges bt Hradecka: 6-3, 7-5
ATP/WTA Brisbane: Wed
MS 1st rd: Dimitrov bt Chardy: 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
It was nearly a nightmare start to the new year for Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, as he just about won his opening match, literally by the skin of his teeth.
The hugely exiting future star of the men’s game, finished last season in the top 10 and is expected of big things this season.
His opponent Jeremy Chardy is always a dangerous player and should not be discounted against anyone. Dimitrov was right to be wary of Chardy, when the Frenchman took the first set by 6-3.
Then the final set was a roller-coaster and a half, with Dimitrov having to save 2 match-pints in the tie-break. He bravely survived the first set one, with a booming 129mph ace, before Chardy crumbled on the 2nd with a double-fault.
Dimitrov then calmed himself enough to edge the tense breaker 10-8 and move into the QFs. Phew!
1st rd results-
Tomic bt Kokkinasis (AUS): 7-6 (7-2), 6-1
Nishikori bt Johnson: 6-4, 7-5
Klizan bt 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (9-7)
WS 2nd rd: Ivanovic bt Gajdosova: 6-4, 6-1
In the women’s draw, Ana Ivanovic had n such trouble easing into her first match of 2015, as she ended the hopes of Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova.
The Serbian beauty, firmly established back inside the World’s top 10 after an age away, managed to weather the storm in the opening set and take it by 6-4. Then in the 2nd, she didn’t wait around a minute longer, racing past her opponent for the loss of just 1 game.
2nd rd results-
Suarez-Navarro bt Lucic-Baroni: 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
Kanepi bt Brengle: 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
Kudryavtseva (RUS): Pliskova: 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
ATP Doha: Day 3 Wed, 2nd rd:
Djokovic bt Stakhovsky: 6-2, 6-1
The best player on the planet Novak Djokovic, cantered to another straightforward win, this time around a famous giant-killer.
Sergei Stakhovsy is mostly known for shocking Roger Federer in the second rd of Wimbledon 2 years ago, in one of the biggest upsets ever at SW19.
But he was literally squished like bug against Djokovic, who steamrollered him, losing a mere 3 games in the process.
The Serbian Ironman next faces Ace machine Ivo Karlovic, in the QFs.
2nd rd results:
Berdych bt Kavcic: 6-1, 6-2
Karlovic bt Basilashvili: 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Gasquet bt Bolelli: 6-3, 6-2
Ferrer bt Verdasco: 6-3, 6-2
Dodig bt Berrer: 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
Brown bt Struff: 7-6 (11-9), 6-4
Seppi bt Souza: 7-5, 6-2
World Tennis News:
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 