Serena Williams retains rolling in tuneup for Australian Open 2021

Image Source : AP United States’ Serena Williams makes a forehand return to Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova throughout a tuneup occasion forward of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 3
It’s a uncommon factor for Serena Williams to play a event the week main into one of many tennis Grand Slams.
Now that she’s at Melbourne Park, although, she’s taking advantage of her time within the Yarra Valley Classic to arrange for subsequent week’s Australian Open.
The 23-time main champion beat Tsvetana Pironkova 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals. She’s nonetheless on observe for a semifinal match towards top-ranked Ash Barty.
Williams had a tricky win over Pironkova finally yr’s U.S. Open, after which withdrew from their scheduled match on the French Open due to an Achilles harm.
That stored Williams on the sidelines till final week. She performed her opening matches in Australia in a long-sleeve prime.
But it was hotter Wednesday, and Williams got here out sizzling. She received the primary set in 28 minutes and made Pironkova battle for nearly each level. The Bulgarian rallied within the second set and saved three match factors earlier than Williams completed it off with a strong service return forcing an error.
Williams was later requested when was the final time she performed a warmup event so near a serious.
The U.S. Open, final yr, was her quick reply. Then she elaborated.
“But earlier than that, earlier than this entire pandemic, I might depend the occasions on one finger I’ve accomplished that,” she said. “I’m just happy to be out here in any circumstances. It’s so cool after what the world went through the last 12 months. Very special to be out here.”
Williams received her final main title on the 2017 Australian Open, when she was pregnant together with her daughter, Olympia. She’s nonetheless chasing Margaret Court’s all-time file of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
Barty appeared just like the top-ranked participant within the first set, then struggled for some time in a 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 win over No. 52-ranked Marie Bouzkova.
“Coming off an evening match, I’m an early riser so I did not get lots of sleep final night time,” the 2019 French Open champion said. “I felt in the middle of the match I pressed a little bit … but I was happy to get the win on my terms at the end.”
Barty will play Shelby Rogers within the quarterfinals.
On the underside half of the draw, defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin fended off Jessica Pegula 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 in a spirited comeback. Kenin was a set and trailed 4-1 earlier than making her revival.

There have been 89 matches scheduled on the Australian Open web site on the center day of a compressed week of six tournaments — together with three WTA occasions and three for the lads’s tour. The crush of matches was due to a 14-day quarantine interval for all gamers who traveled to Australia for the event. That, in flip, pushed the Australian Open again three weeks from its regular begin.
OSAKA IN THREE
U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka superior within the Gippsland Trophy, however wanted three units after a sluggish begin.
Osaka had a first-round bye and dropped solely 4 video games en path to her second-round win, so a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 371-ranked Katie Boulter was a change of tempo.
She did not thoughts the additional work.
“Honestly I like playing long matches, just because I can gauge the condition of the court and I feel my fitness gets better,” Osaka stated. “I played a shorter match yesterday, so maybe subconsciously I made myself play a long match today.”
Second-ranked Simona Halep had a extra straight-forward 6-2, 6-4 win over Laura Siegemund.
Also advancing have been third-seeded Elina Svitolina, who beat former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2, and seventh-seeded Elise Mertens, who defeated Twelfth-seeded Caroline Garcia 7-6 (1), 6-3.
ITALY ADVANCES
Italy is the primary crew by way of to the ATP Cup semifinals after profitable the primary two singles matches towards France.
Fabio Fognini beat Benoit Paire 6-1, 7-6 (2) earlier than Matteo Berrettini defeated Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-2.
Italy stays unbeaten and warranted of topping Group C within the 12-team occasion following its 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday.
In Wednesday’s different matches, Germany beat Canada 2-0 within the different early match. Jan-Lennard Struff downed Milos Raonic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) and Alexander Zverev held off Denis Shapovalov 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Canada was coming off a gap loss to defending champion Serbia and now cannot make the semifinals.
Germany will play Serbia for first place in Group A on Thursday.