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Italian beating sole surprise in women’s section
World number one Caroline Wozniacki reached the Australian Open third round on Wednesday as Li Na and Kim Clijsters moved towards a 2011 final rematch.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki reached the Australian Open third round on Wednesday as Li Na and Kim Clijsters moved towards a 2011 final rematch.
Wozniacki was pushed hard in the second set by Georgia’s Anna Tatishvili before she sealed it on a tie-break to win 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) and set up a clash against Romanian Monica Niculescu.
In the last match of the day, third seed Azarenka shrugged off the crowd’s mockery of her distinctive screaming to crush Australian wildcard Dellacqua 6-1, 6-0 with a ruthless display of power and control, serving well and returning beautifully to keep the Australian under constant pressure Earlier, 2011 finalist Li cantered to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska and defending champion Clijsters demolished France’s Stephanie Foretz Gacon 6-0, 6-1 in just 47 minutes. Their wins left them on course for a highly anticipated fourth round meeting.
Schiavone shocker
The shock of the day came on the Margaret Court Arena, where little-known Italian Romina Oprandi outshone 10th seed and compatriot Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-3.
Elsewhere, eighth-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska was untroubled by Argentinian qualifer Paula Ormaechea, winning 6-3, 6-1, while Czech Iveta Benesova upset China’s 16th seed Peng Shuai 6-2, 6-4.
Former world number one Jelena Jankovic saw off Taiwanese wildcard Chang Kai-chen 6-4, 6-2.
