tennisnet.com WTA › Grand Slam › Australian Open

Australian Open 2021: Serena with problems, Mugurua and Sabalenka in a hurry

At the Australian Open 2021, favorites like Serena Williams , Aryna Sabalenka and Garbine Muguruza prevailed in the day session on Friday.

by tennisnet.com
last edit: Feb 12, 2021, 05:18 am

The really tough pieces are now waiting for Serena Williams
© Getty Images
The really tough pieces are now waiting for Serena Williams

As in the first rounds, some women at the Australian Open were in an extremely hurry to get back into the shower on Friday. Like Garbine Muguruza, who only lasted 56 minutes with a 6-1 and 6-1 win against Zarina Diyas. Marketa Vondrousova had to deal with Sorana Cirstea in more detail, but won after 85 minutes with 6: 4 and 6: 2. The Margaret Court Arena was free again very early on (What Pablo Carreno Busta and Grigor Dimitrov made the best of: Their first game lasted more than five minutes. However, the Spaniard had to retire after a set.)

In the Rod Laver Arena, Aryna Sabalenka was no less brisk. 6: 3 and 6: 1 after 60 minutes against Ann Li, the Belarusian, who had a winning streak of 15 matches before the quarantine in Melbourne, you have to have on the slip for the first major of the year.

Serena makes a comeback in the first movement

Serena Williams, on the other hand, had her hands full with Anastasia Potapova. In the first set, the American was behind with a break, Potapova helped with the comeback with five double faults in a single service game. And even in the tie-break of the first set, it was not ragged about mistakes.

Serena also played a day session match on her third appearance, daughter Olympia apparently needs her mother's attention in the evening. The 23-time major winner also had to stay alert: Potapova broke at the beginning of round two, but Williams immediately equalized. Serena pulled away to 4-1, Potapova called for the physiotherapist. And didn't find my way back into the match. The favorites won 7: 6 (5) and 6: 2 after 97 minutes of play and will face Sabalenka in the round of 16 on Sunday. Due to the five-day lockdown in Melbourne, however, there were no fans in the stands.

What Su-Wei Hsieh probably won't care about: The Korean defeated Sara Errani in three sets and also made it into the fourth round. And that after she was already 3: 5 behind in the decisive set.

Here the single tableau of women

laver arena

by tennisnet.com

Friday
Feb 12, 2021, 05:45 am
last edit: Feb 12, 2021, 05:18 am