28
7DAYS
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2009
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DUBAI WOMEN’S OPEN
ANASTASIA
LEFT: Serena Williams
powers the ball back to
Sara Errani as she
recovers from a
nightmare start
IS NO MATCH
RIGHT: The Italian
looked to be in line for
a huge scalp after
claiming the first set
FOR VENUS
BELOW: It’s business
as usual for the
ten-time Grand Slam
champion as she gets
ready to return an
VENUS WILLIAMS could not
By CHRIS FRASER
Errani shot with interest
have enjoyed an easier start
to her Dubai challenge, as
she swept aside hapless sport. Her sister Serena is
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova just one in a number of top
in a one-sided match on names in the men’s and
centre court. women’s game who have
The seven-time Grand Slam hit out at the system which
champion has not enjoyed has been introduced by
the best of form so far this WADA and the International
season. In her only Tennis Federation.
tournament so far, the Under the new system,
American crashed out of athletes must specify where
the Australian Open in the they can be found for an
early stages to Carla Suarez hour every day, in order to
Navarro of Spain. be tested.
But despite a lack of court Players have hit out at the
time, she proved far too “draconian” system, and
good for Pavlyuchenkova, Venus admits the system
dispatching the Russian needs to be looked at from
6-0, 6-1 with the minimum a player’s perspective.
of fuss on centre court. The 28-year-old said: “This
Some may argue that such system is somewhat new,
a thrashing is of little value. so I don’t think many of us
But Williams declared know what exactly is going
herself satisfied with the to happen with it. But as the
test. She said: “You know year goes on we’ll be able
I’ve got the experience, to comment on it.
she’s actually a really good “As a player, all you are
player, she didn’t get a lot focused on is trying to get
Serena survives
of first serves in and I was (through) that match, so if it
aggressive off the second goes on until 1am, you
serve all the time. don’t know what is going to
“I was able to control the happen and after that you
points and that always are focusing on recovering
makes a difference. I don’t for the next day.
think it helped her, but she “You are not focused on
got a lot of power. where you are going to be,
“I feel good about it you are just trying to do
early Errani test
because I feel I played well. what you do. And if you are
I played the way I want to injured, the first thing you
and executed my game plan are going to do is go to
- that always feels good.” physiotherapist.
One thing the older “There are some things in SERENA WILLIAMS The top seed came back into 6-0 to win the encounter in
Williams sister wasn’t quite the system that need to be survived a scare to go by the set the longer it one hour 41 minutes.
so emphatic about, looked at,” she added. “So through to the next round of
however, was the new drug we’ve all to work together the Dubai Tennis
GREG
progressed but the only She faces Jie Zheng this
surprise was she managed to evening in the third round and
testing system which is for a system that works, I Championships, beating
WILCOX
claim four games as Errani, is prepared for yet another
being implemented in the think then it is fair.” Sara Errani 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. having broken Serena’s serve stern test of her credentials.
The world No.1 had breezed I’ll be able to continue on and twice, served out for 6-4. “I expect a really tough match,
NO MERCY: Williams took
past the Italian twice before it will work out well,” said It looked too good to be true she’s playing really good,”
just 57 minutes to book her
and so it came as a shock Williams. “She played really for the Italian. And so it was to Williams said.
place in the next round
that the match proved to be well and built on my mistakes. prove. Knowing she was in
anything but a gentle opener “I got off to a slow start and danger of an embarrassing
for Williams. had to get used to the early exit, Williams found her
TODAY’S SELECTED
Errani got off to a great start conditions,” she added. range and broke Errani twice
ORDER OF PLAY
by winning the first set and it Williams started the match in quick succession to race to
took time for the American’s with a serve but from then on a 4-0 second set lead. Centre Court (12pm)
class to shine though. the first set didn’t follow the But as if to illustrate all was
But once she broke the Italian anticipated script. not well with her game, Errani
V Zvonareva (RUS) v M Bartoli
(FRA)
in the fourth game of the Errani broke her in the first then twice broke the American
second set there was only game and won the next three - having in one of the games
followed by
going to be one winner. in 17 minutes to leave the been three set points down.
And this year’s Australian world No.1 shell-shocked. The fact that Williams broke
A Cornet (FRA) v V Williams
Open winner hopes the tough And the Italian was well worth the Italian twice again to close
(USA);
examination will help her as her lead. She was up to out the set 6-2 in 33 minutes
C Pin (FRA) v A Ivanovic (SRB)
she tries to claim her first everything the American threw couldn’t disguise the fact she Not before 7pm
Dubai title. at her, and though it may wasn’t anywhere near to
“I hope it helps (as the week sound strange, Errani’s showing off her A-game.
K Kanepi (EST) v J Jankovic
goes on) - that’s one positive scintillating strokeplay was too But she went up another gear
(SRB); S Williams (USA) v J
Zheng (CHN)
way of looking at it and I hope good for Williams. in the third set and closed out
>> Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli needed two and three quarters to see off Italy’s Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-3 in a titanic tussle on court No.3 yesterday afternoon
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