Williams sisters through in Stanford

Eurosport - Wed, 29 Jul 08:00:00 2009

Wimbledon champion Serena Williams battled past China's Li Na 6-3 7-6 to reach the second round of the Stanford Classic, where she will be joined by sister Venus.

TENNIS 2009 - Serena Williams of the US returns backhand at WTA Stanford - 0

Top seed Serena jumped out to a 6-3 5-2 lead behind some razor-sharp groundstrokes before the hard-hitting Li fought back to force a tiebreaker.

However, the 11-times Grand Slam champion showed more ambition in the tiebreaker and secured the contest when Li hit a backhand into the net.

"She's really good and keeps improving over time," Serena said of her Chinese opponent. "I was a little off. I'd rather be a little off now and peak during the second week of the US Open."

Second seed Venus did not have to break much of a sweat against Canada's StephanieDubois, mixing and matching a net attack with some quick sprints from the baseline to win 6-2 6-3.

"It was a great match to get my rhythm, hit a lot of balls and work on my shots," said Williams, who won Stanford titles here in 2000 and 2002.

"It's all about the mentality. I'm working on my transition game. I'm not afraid to come in and use my size."

Two former Stanford champions were beaten: last year's winner Aleksandra Wozniak, losing 6-4 4-6 7-5 to Daniela Hantuchova , and 2007 champ Anna Chakvetadze 6-4 5-7 7-6 against Maria Kirilenko.

Australia's Samantha Stosur upset number six seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-4 6-3 while fourth seed Jelena Jankovic cruised past American Angela Haynes 6-3 6-1.

Eighth seed Marion Bartoli of France overcame Ayumi Morita of Japan 7-6 6-3.

WTA Stanford last 16 LIVE at 9.30pm on Thursday 30th July on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Reuters

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  1. One of the Williams sisters will be in the final.Come­ on JJ and Elena you can do it good luck.

    From AJ, on Thu 30 Jul 1:57PM

  2. attaha:Enjoy your comments, but where have you been­ friend? We've talked this Number 1 thing to death­ and none of us seems to understand how WTA can continue­ the farce of choosing #1 by points, but we all know why­ the association does choose that way. And we know the­ difference in ONE and BEST. So, I plan to watch Serena­ get a bit busier and play a few more tournaments so­ that she can make ONE = BEST for a change. Cheers.

    From Hatsutking, on Thu 30 Jul 6:29AM

  3. Well done Serena! I look to you....

    From Vic M, on Thu 30 Jul 12:48AM

  4. can't understand this madness about no 1 player not­ winning SLAM. Of the last 4 slams played, serena won 3,­ Safina won nothing only two master Rome and Madrid. She­ was still no1 when she won these two tournament, but on­ the other hand serena with 3 GS is no 2. how on earth­ can masters be better than GS? I don't see the­ logic here. The fact that safina got to quarters at SW­ amazed so much point for her better than eventual­ winner. This is confusing . At the same time she has­ earned more points now playing Slovenia tour and not­ Standford. Is she now dictating for wta?

    From Augustine A, on Wed 29 Jul 9:56PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    amazing how Serena still very fit even with the her­ breastZilla that make it diffecult for her back, if she­ have more balance and fun in her private life she can­ break all records,thanks for reading this horoscop
    Go­ SerenaZilla!!

    From Ra, on Wed 29 Jul 7:26PM

  6. Dinara Safina will eventually win a Grand Slam. If she­ doesn't then she will feel worse than Anna­ Kournikova. However she gonna win a grand when tennis­ fans will least expect and when she is not the no.1­ ranked player.

    From Chukwuemeka, on Wed 29 Jul 6:59PM

  7. Dinara wanted to play that tournament because she­ wanted to have some rest before LA and that's why.­ As for Serena she is one of the greatest and soon will­ be the first, no one argues. I think people don't­ have to blame Dinara for not winning slams with being­ No.1, it's not her fault, just she played­ consistently at some tournaments and got good points­ but ubfortunately without a slam under her name. If she­ continue to play the same all time she'll get one­ eventually.

    From timaomurbekov, on Wed 29 Jul 6:30PM

  8. Well, it is all over with Safina as this would have­ been a tournament she would be competing in. Mind you­ she won the Rome and Madrid masters because the­ williamses were either knocked out or were not­ competing. Maybe Safina was advised not to play by her­ coach but to play in Slovenia being the only highly­ ranked. What a way to loose no 1 ranking. Or that wta­ did this to ensure she remains no 1 even if any top 10­ wins in Standford classic. \the more reason why­ wta/atp should have more GS tournaments of 10 to avoid­ players in the TOP 20 going awol to lesser tournaments.­ If Safina failed to play in Standford with the top 10­ competing, this is ominous sign she has relinquished­ the position of no 1 to the winners. I can't see­ the williamses loosing this tournament. What will­ safina be doing while a better tournament that will­ prepare her for the US open is on the way? what will be­ her seeding now for US open? Still no 1 seed when she­ hasn't won a GS. Same happened at Wimbledon and­ French Open including AO.

    From Augustine A, on Wed 29 Jul 5:46PM

  9. Who is talking about threat to Williaams here? Please­ tennis sports is not Aghanistan or Iraq. Take it easy,­ don't throw up.

    From margiehee, on Wed 29 Jul 4:45PM

  10. Listen good!! Safina is never a threat and will never­ be to the Williams. so, you better stop talking about­ Safina / Williamsses. You and i and evryone know that,­ safina is not the best women tennis player. even, even­ though, Serena and venus are the best (1/2) in the­ WORLD i still don`t think, Safina comes third. As long­ as the Williams sisters are on tour no one is gonna be­ able to over come them. they may lose some matches but,­ they still gonna be always one to beat. and MIND YOU!­ They`ve been on top for the past DECADE. most have come­ and went some tried to come backbut, it backed fired.

    From Geo_, on Wed 29 Jul 3:51PM

  11. thanks for relaying what dinara said asefras. i thought­ she got unfair criticism for playing the local tour­ event at her new base in slovenia. however i am not­ sure about her geography though with regards to the­ williamses backyard, but the pun is funny all the same.­ And the ranking points on offer?? oh leave that.

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 29 Jul 3:18PM

  12. Ok, I just interviewed Safina to find out why she is­ not playing here, and she said she played the­ tournament in her backyard (Slovenia), while the­ Williams are also playing the one in their backyard.

    From asefras, on Wed 29 Jul 2:41PM

  13. Why Jay are you a stalker?

    From Nicholas, on Wed 29 Jul 1:35PM

  14. Where's Dinara??????

    From jay, on Wed 29 Jul 1:15PM

  15. Dinara Safina was scared for playing too early,
    top 20­ players.

    From Mootje M, on Wed 29 Jul 12:44PM

  16. Dinara Safina isn't here, way to busy seeking­ points were there is less competition, against minors,­ i don't know if i call her bully or coward,­ bully's are cowards anyway, she's taking­ advantage of inexperience players

    From hloeng, on Wed 29 Jul 11:25AM

  17. An all Williams finals could be in the horizon. It­ would be more excited if they don't hold back on­ their emotions just like they don't on their actual­ play. I wish them the best.

    From Chukwuemeka, on Wed 29 Jul 9:09AM

  18. Hmmm... as much as i love to see the williams Final.. I­ would appreciate the repeat of the Womens Wimbledon­ Semi, between Serena and Elena, in this Final.

    From Bblee, on Wed 29 Jul 8:29AM
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