Williams Sisters, Safina Favorites in Wimbledon Quarters Tuesday
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Defending champ Venus Williams received an easy pass into the quarterfinals Monday at Wimbledon when a crying Ana Ivanovic retired against the American trailing 1-6, 0-1.
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Ivanovic, the former No. 1 whose career fell off a cliff after winning the French Open, has since suffered a parade of injuries, and on Monday was done in by a thigh injury, earlier in the match seeking aide from the trainers.
“I don’t even know the last time that I had these circumstances. I don’t think ever in a Slam,” said Williams. “So I think she was in a lot of pain. You know me, I’m one of those players I just only pay attention to what’s going on my side of the net. But today I felt really sad for her actually. She was really upset. This is Wimbledon. It’s the last place you want to have an injury that you can’t overcome. So I’m wishing her a lot of luck in her recovery.”
The Williams sisters remain on track for a second straight all-Williams final after younger sister Serena also advanced, brutalizing Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-1. Venus has now won 31 consecutive sets at Wimbledon, the longest streak since Martina Navratilova’s 40 in a row in 1982-85.
No. 11-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska ended the run of unseeded 17-year-old Melanie Oudin, beating the American 6-4, 7-5. Oudin was not without her chances, leading a break in the second in her Wimbledon tournament debut, and earlier defeating former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic.
“I’m, like, disappointed I lost,” Oudin said. “But, I mean, I’m very proud of myself how I did here. I think it’s just like another step I’m taking.”
Radwanska will next face Venus, and says that, you know, the match is out of her hands.
“Depends of her,” Radwanska said of the elder Williams sister. “If she’s playing good tennis and she have a good day, it’s very tough to play against her. Especially the serves, you know, she’s hitting hard. You know, it’s so tough play against both Williams sisters. So, you know, we’ll find out in the beginning of the match.”
In other matches No. 4-seeded Elena Dementieva beat fellow Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3, and No. 8 Victoria Azarenka outlasted No. 10 Nadia Petrova 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3.
Azarenka will next face No. 2 seed Serena Williams.
Other players advancing Monday were world No. 1 Dinara Safina who outlasted No. 17 seed Amelie Mauresmo 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. She will next face the hard-serving unseeded German Sabine Lisicki, who upset No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-4.
Italian Francesca Schiavone was also an upset winner, defeating No. 26 seed Virginie Razzano 6-2, 7-6(1).
Featured Tuesday at Wimbledon is ladies’ quarterfinal action in (1) Safina vs. Lisicki, (8) Azarenka vs. (2) S.Williams, (3)V.Williams vs. (11) Radwanska, and Schiavone vs. (4) Dementieva.
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