Azarenka to join Sharapova, Williams in Brisbane

Updated November 21, 2012 12:00:18

The Brisbane International will feature the world's top three women players with confirmation on Wednesday that top-ranked Victoria Azarenka will take part.

Belarus's Azarenka joins Russian world number two Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams of the United States in the tournament starting December 30.

The Brisbane International is the main lead-up to January's Australian Open in Melbourne, and tournament organisers said the field would feature eight of the top 10 women.

Other players confirmed include Germany's Angelique Kerber, Sara Errani of Italy, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and Australia's Samantha Stosur.

"I am really looking forward to returning to Brisbane where I won the inaugural title in 2009," Azarenka said.

"I am very proud to have ended the year as world number one and I am excited to start my 2013 campaign in Brisbane where I know I will get some tough matches against the world's best there."

Azarenka, 23, said it was the perfect preparation leading into the Australian Open, where she will defend the title she won this year.

The Brisbane International, which also features US Open champion Andy Murray in the men's draw, takes place from December 30 to January 6.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted November 21, 2012 12:00:18

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Williams, Sharapova through to Championships final

Updated October 28, 2012 12:23:35

Maria Sharapova set up a blockbuster WTA Championships final against Serena Williams on Sunday (AEDT) with a crushing 6-4, 6-2 win over world number one Victoria Azarenka.

Olympic, Wimbledon and US Open champion Williams had earlier eased into Monday's title match with a 6-2, 6-1 success against an exhausted Agnieszka Radwanska in a repeat of this summer's Wimbledon final.

"I have lost to Victoria a few times so I was happy to get the chance to play against her," said Sharapova.

"Against the world number one, you have to run down every ball. She's number one for a reason so I had to be ready for every shot.

"It will be a difficult match against Serena. She's been on fire, she's the one to beat."

Not many people expected Sharapova to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open on her least favoured clay court surface in June.

And after losing four times out of five to Azarenka this year, a semi-final win indoors in Istanbul did not seem likely either.

But the Russian designed sensibly bold tactics to frustrate the heavy-hitting Belarussian, stuck to them bravely, and executed them excellently.

Sharapova took the ball early as much as possible, denied Azarenka time and room to dominate, took risks with fierce drives to force openings, and resolutely punished most of the short returns. Altogther she clobbered 30 clean winners on a slow surface.

Azarenka, who had secured the year-end top ranking the day before with her win over Li Na, was unexpectedly subdued -- perhaps hindered by a strained right thigh which she grasped several times.

Even Sharapova's sometimes variable serve was mostly functioning well, producing a high 72 per cent first service statistic and seven aces.

The only notable exception to this came during the important sixth game of the second set, which lasted 15 minutes and during which Sharapova delivered two double faults.

Azarenka was making her last stand during this desperate phase, and Sharapova was unable to push through until she was annoyed by a line judge who called fault to a pounding delivery down the centre line.

Her appeal to Hawkeye showed the ball as having touched the line, causing her serve to be reinstated as an ace. A newly fired-up Sharapova then produced an excellent sliding first serve and raking cross-court drive combination to reach 5-1.

At the end she looked more than usually excited, shrieking loudly and pumping her arms very hard -- perhaps because it avenged important Grand Slam defeats in Melbourne and New York.

Perhaps also she now fancies her chances of regaining a WTA Championships title she last won in her breakthrough year back in 2004.

While Radwanska had had a record-breaking three-and-a-half hour match against Sara Errani the night before, Williams had had a rest day and the statistics showed that the underdog had already run three times as far as the former champion to get to the semi-finals.

Not surprisingly Radwanska had admitted that it would be an achievement "just to get to the court in one piece."

Serena's side-to-side ground strokes soon made it clear that she would have to cover large areas of court again and that was something which could not be repeated for long.

"I really wanted to run, but my legs didn't," Radwanska admitted.

Williams was certainly sympathetic to the Polish player's predicament.

"I just told her it was awesome that she played so well and played through another match after playing a good eight hours. It was really inspiring for me."

'Despite the mundane encounter, Williams was almost as thrilled as Sharapova.

Waving ecstatically and fluffing up her already voluminous hair she announced that all she wanted to do now was finish 2012 with a win.

That would have special meaning for her, since this has been a year in which she proved she has finally recovered from a horrific 12 months during which a blood clot in her lungs threatened her life.

AFP

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First posted October 28, 2012 07:47:55

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Venus Williams to make Hopman Cup debut

Updated September 19, 2012 15:17:14

Venus Williams will make her Hopman Cup debut in Perth later this year, partnering John Isner to represent the United States in the mixed international tournament.

Seven-times grand slam champion Williams will have a chance to match her sister Serena, who won the tournament in 2008 with Mardy Fish and five years earlier with James Blake.

"I've never been to Perth - I've never played the Hopman Cup, so for me it's going to be a wonderful experience," Williams said in a media release.

"I've watched it literally every year on TV so now I get to play, I'm very excited."

World number 10 Isner won the title in 2011 with Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who stands at 1.68m tall to his 2.06m and Williams' 1.85m.

"My previous two partners have been very, very small," said Isner.

"But Venus is a little bit taller so I'm not going to look like such a giant out there. She's obviously one of the greatest players ever so I think our team has a good shot to do well."

Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic have already been confirmed as the Serbia pairing for the event, which will take place from December 29 to January 5 at the new Perth Arena.

Reuters

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First posted September 19, 2012 15:17:14

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Williams, Sharapova headed for Brisbane

Updated September 13, 2012 13:35:44

US Open champion Serena Williams will be joined by Maria Sharapova at the 2013 Brisbane International.

Tournament organisers announced Williams and Sharapova have been added to the women's draw for what will be a key warm-up event for the Australian Open.

Williams will arrive in Brisbane for the tournament, which begins on December 30, as the winner of the two most recent majors.

She added the US Open crown on Monday (AEST) to her Wimbledon victory in July.

The 30-year-old, who also won the Olympic singles gold medal in London, contested Brisbane this year where she reached the quarter-finals prior to withdrawing with an ankle injury.

World number two Sharapova has enjoyed success in 2012 as well, having won her maiden French Open in June.

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First posted September 13, 2012 13:31:01

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Azarenka to face Williams in US Open final

Updated September 08, 2012 09:46:50

World number one Victoria Azarenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, advanced to the US Open women's final by defeating

Azarenka defeated the Russian third seed Sharapova 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, while Williams, searching for her fourth US Open title and 15th grand slam, thrashed Errani 6-1, 6-2.

In a rematch of the Australian Open final where Azarenka beat Sharapova to win her first Grand Slam title, the 23-year-old from Belarus moved one victory shy of becoming the first top seed to win the US Open since Justine Henin in 2007.

"I was just trying to grab the first opportunity," Azarenka said. "Maria is such a great player. She came out firing and didn't give me a chance to get into a rhythm. I just kept fighting with all my heart."

This is the first time a US Open women's final four has included the year's prior Grand Slam champions -- Azarenka, Wimbledon and Olympic winner Williams and Sharapova, who completed a career Grand Slam with her Roland Garros title.

Azarenka improved to 12-0 in three-set matches this season while inflicting Sharapova's first three-set defeat in 13 such matches in 2012.

An extra-long break before the third set for excessive heat helped build the drama at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Azarenka practicing with the help of a ball boy as Sharapova went off the court to cool off after dropping the second set.

Sharapova fought off two break points in the fourth game, battled nearly 10 minutes to hold in the sixth but finally surrendered her serve in the final game to fall after two hours and 42 minutes.

"I was trying not to focus on the score," Azarenka said. "I wanted to give whatever it takes. I knew my opponent was going to play hard. I knew I was going to have to play harder."

No top seed has won any Grand Slam crown since Serena Williams in 2010 at Wimbledon.

Azarenka, who will remain number one next week no matter who wins the US Open, had never been beyond the fourth round in New York until this year but will play for her fifth title of the year and the 13th of her career.

Sharapova, who will rise to World No. 2 in next week's rankings, has not reached a US Open final since winning the title in 2006 and failed to become the first woman to reach three Slam finals in the same year since 2006.

Sharapova broke in the second game of the opening set and broke again at love for a 5-1 edge, but back-to-back double faults when she was two points from the set handed Azarenka a break and a lifeline.

Azarenka held and had two chances to break Sharapova in the ninth game before the Russian found her form and captured five of the final six points, taking the set in 40 minutes with her first ace, a 107-mph blast up the middle.

Sharapova, 25, double faulted away a break to hand the ponytailed top seed a 3-1 lead in the second set and Azarenka broke again in the last game to force a third set.

Wimbledon and Olympic champion Williams has reached the final for the loss of just 19 games.

She will take a 9-1 winning record into the final against Azarenka and will go into the game as a big favourite.

"I love playing here. It's always an honour, every time I play here is such a pleasure," said Williams, who was just 17 when she won her first US Open title 13 years ago.

"It's awesome to be back in the final again. I dreamt about this all year and I am really happy. It'll be great to win again, but Victoria also wants it. But hey, I'm the last American standing, so come on guys."

Williams, 30, was barely troubled by 10th-seeded Errani, the French Open runner-up, who she had already defeated three times in three outings prior to Friday's mismatch.

She broke three times in the first set, which was wrapped-up in 30 minutes, firing 18 winners to just three and allowing the Italian just five points on her serve.

More breaks followed in the first and fifth games of the second set as the American built a 4-1 lead.

Errani, the first Italian woman to reach the US Open semi-finals, saved a match point in the seventh game.

But Williams, the runner-up to Samantha Stosur in a bad-tempered final in 2011, wasn't to be denied, winning the tie with a second serve ace - her ninth of the contest and 50th of the tournament.

Her 64-minute victory was perfectly illustrated by 38 winners to just six by Errani.

AFP

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First posted September 08, 2012 07:36:38

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Williams wins second straight Stanford title

Updated July 16, 2012 09:32:48

Serena Williams became the first woman since 2006 to win a second straight WTA Stanford event as the five-time Wimbledon winner defeated lucky loser Coco Vandeweghe 7-5, 6-3 on Monday morning (AEST).

Williams' title defence came six years after Kim Clijsters completed her double.

"I'm so glad to be done here," said Williams, who got a scare in a tight 53-minute opening set but easily won the second set.

"I was glad to come here but it was tough.

"I flew from Wimbledon and had to get adjusted to the conditions and beat the jet-lag. I was glad to play and it's great to win.

"But now I want to stay in the States for a while and prepare for the London Olympics."

Williams defeated Vandeweghe in 90 minutes, hammering 21 winners, nine aces and getting four breaks of serve.

Vandeweghe, ranked 120 but set for a rise into the top 75, was bidding for history in hopes of becoming the second lucky loser from qualifying rounds to win a WTA Tour title.

The Californian got into the field after another player withdrew before the start.

"It was really exciting to be in the final, hopefully this was a good omen for the rest of the summer," she said.

"Hardcourt is definitely my favourite surface. I'm happy to be out there playing."

The performance earns the Californian a direct entry into the US Open.

Williams has two trophies in as many weeks after winning Wimbledon last weekend, then flying to northern California to shift onto the hardcourts.

The world number four now owns 43 career titles, the same number as her sister Venus.

Williams also has four wins in 2012, putting her joint leader in that category alongside world number one Victoria Azarenka.

AFP

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First posted July 16, 2012 09:32:48

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Williams withdraws from Rome semi

Updated May 19, 2012 21:47:12

Serena Williams withdrew from the Rome Masters semi-final with China's Li Na due to back pain, but insists she will be fine for the French Open.

"I'm fine, I'll be 100 per cent for the French," said 30-year-old Williams, who added she pulled out to make sure she did not aggravate the injury.

"I've been feeling a little pain this week and I have a huge schedule coming up," said the American who was on a 17-match win streak on clay.

China's eighth seed Li could not have asked for better timing as she heads into her Roland Garros title defence beginning in eight days.

Li will play for the Rome title against German Angelique Kerber or defending champion Maria Sharapova.

Williams did not face much of a match in the quarter-finals, needing less than half an hour on court as opponent Flavia Pennetta quit after four games with a wrist problem.

"I would have hoped to have played until the end of that match but it would have depended on my back," said 13-time grand slam winner Williams, the 2002 Rome champion.

Williams has won two clay titles in recent weeks, in Charleston and Madrid.

"I've been playing a lot and my body is getting used to a lot of matches again. My form is good heading to Paris. I want to be ready for the next couple of months (French Open, Wimbledon, Olympics and US Open).

"I'm just living for the moment now, maybe I'll stay a few days in Rome, I really love the city," said Williams.

AFP

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First posted May 19, 2012 21:45:59

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Azarenka to play Williams in final

Updated May 12, 2012 23:15:54

Victoria Azarenka booked her place in a second straight final at the Madrid Masters after stretching her 2012 winning streak over Agnieszka Radwanska to six matches this season with a 6-2, 6-4 victory on Saturday.

The world number one will play for her fifth title of the season when she takes on number nine seed Serena Williams, a 7-6 (7/5), 6-0 winner over Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka.

Azarenka has tasted victory in just one of seven matches with Williams, who won their last meeting at the 2011 US Open.

Azarenka has lost just one set of 14 played this season against Radwanska and now leads 11-3 overall in their head-to-head series.

The Belarusian top seed advanced in 79 minutes with 29 winners and six breaks of serve, sealing the win on her second match point with a drop-shot that Radwanska could not reach.

"I'm very happy to reach another final. That is always the goal," said the winner. "I've had a lot of good matches this week.

"I'm glad to be back in the final. I'm looking forward to it."

Azarenka will be out to prove herself after losing the 2011 final here to Petra Kvitova, two months before the Czech made her major breakthrough by winning Wimbledon.

She has four trophies this season, but will be aiming for her first of the year on clay, having last triumphed on hardcourt at Indian Wells in March.

The Belarusian, who began the season with 26 consecutive wins, stands 34-2 for the season, with her only defeats coming against Marion Bartoli in Miami and against Maria Sharapova in the Stuttgart clay final last month.

Radwanska was playing with her new world ranking of third as she competed in her sixth semi-final of 2012.

Williams advanced to the final without facing a break point against Hradecka, sweeping the last set to end with 19 winners.

AFP

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First posted May 12, 2012 23:14:09

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Williams, Clijsters make winning returns to tour

Updated March 23, 2012 10:39:03

Former world number ones Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters have made triumphant returns to the women's tennis tour after long lay-offs with victories at the WTA and ATP Miami hardcourt tournament.

Seven-time grand slam champion Williams, who has not played a WTA event since pulling out of last year's US Open, defeated Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-0, 6-3, in 77 minutes.

Williams announced at last year's US Open she had been diagnosed with the auto-immune disorder Sjogren's Syndrome. The illness saps her energy and causes pain in her joints.

Clijsters, playing for the first time since her Australian Open semi-final loss to world number one Victoria Azarenka, rallied to eliminate Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova 4-6, 6-1, 6-0. The Belgian won 12 of the last 13 games to defeat Gajdosova.

"It's always tough to get that first match rhythm under your belt," Clijsters said. "When it comes down to my game I felt I wasn't quite going through my shots as I should have.

"I was just trying to find that rhythm, but on the other hand maybe forgetting to still play aggressive tennis. But as I started to feel more comfortable with the conditions and being in a match situation again I was hitting better, and that definitely showed in the second and third sets."

Clijsters, who won at Miami in 2005 and 2010, skipped last week's Indian Wells tournament to rest her injured ankle, the latest in a list of ailments in the past year that has also included a sore shoulder, wrist and abdomen.

"It's just a matter of getting those matches again," Clijsters said. "One thing I can count on is I have the experience, though. It doesn't take me that long to get used to it again. But it has become tougher."

Saying her ankle is at 95 per cent of peak fitness, Clijsters pondered how close she came to knocking off top seed Azarenka in Australia and how strong Azarenka - now undefeated this season in 23 matches - has played.

"I felt like I was really close to winning that match (at Melbourne Park)," Clijsters said. "She has been playing really good tennis. I think she's in a state of mind where she feels very confident and is on a roll.

"It's really showing in her game and in the way she approaches matches. I know what it's like to be in that situation, where you feel very focused but at the same time playing freely, without any worries."

Williams advanced to a second-round match against Czech third seed, and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who had a first-round bye. Next up for Clijsters is her match against Germany's 14th-seeded Julia Goerges.

First round matches began in the men's draw with Russian Nikolay Davydenko outlasting American James Blake 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, to book a second-round date with US 10th seed John Isner, the runner-up to Roger Federer last week at Indian Wells.

Colombia's Alejandro Falla was leading 6-1, 2-1 when Uzbek Denis Istomin retired with an injury, advancing the South American into a second-round match with British fourth seed Andy Murray.

Chile's Fernando Gonzalez was set to open his farewell event against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut on Wednesday night. Gonzalez, a three-time Olympic medallist, last month announced his decision to retire after this event.

AFP

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First posted March 22, 2012 15:14:31

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Williams crushes Safarova to win Charleston

Updated April 09, 2012 10:08:59

Serena Williams captured her 40th career WTA title by overpowering ninth-seed Czech Lucie Safarova 6-0, 6-1 in the Charleston claycourt tournament final on Sunday.

The 13-time Grand Slam winner needed just 58 minutes to dispatch Safarova in her first final appearance since last year's US Open when she lost to Samantha Stosur.

This marked Williams' first WTA title since turning 30 in September and she is the first 30-year-old to win on the green clay in Charleston since Martina Navratilova in 1990.

"I definitely want to continue this," said Williams who will move from 10 to nine when the new world rankings come out.

"I've never played consistently at such a high level with low errors like this, and the scary thing is I could have served so much better."

This marked Williams' first WTA title since turning 30 in September and she is the first 30-year-old to win on the green clay in Charleston since Martina Navratilova in 1990.

Williams, who did not drop a set in Charleston, improved to a perfect 5-0 against world No.26 Safarova. She won her quarter-final match when German Sabine Lisicki retired after 40 minutes in the first set with a foot injury.

Williams hammered five aces, 27 winners and had just eight unforced errors. She won 20 of 25 first serve points and saved four of four break point chances on Sunday.

"I did pretty well in (last) summer, but then I dropped off again until this tournament. So I really am like a floating bird," Williams said.

"It's motivating for me to go home and work harder, because I know Lucie and Sam (Stosur) and everyone is going to work hard, too. Now they know what to expect even more when they play me. This is a battle, and I want to continue to win."

Williams hammered five aces, won 20 of 25 first serve points and saved four of four break point chances on Sunday.

She now needs one more title to tie Kim Clijsters (41) for 13th place on the WTA all-time list.

This marked the second Charleston title for Williams who also won here in 2008.

Safarova was a heavy underdog against Williams, despite her one-sided 6-0, 6-0 win over Polona Hercog in the semi-finals.

AFP

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First posted April 09, 2012 07:44:44

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Dominant Williams into fourth round

Updated January 21, 2012 22:24:20

Five-time champion Serena Williams raced into the fourth round of the Australian Open, demolishing Hungary's Greta Arn for the loss of just two games on Saturday evening.

Williams totally dominated the world number 92 to win 6-1, 6-1 and move into a fourth round clash against unseeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

The 32-year-old Arn started well and had a break point in the opening game, but that was as close as the Hungarian got as Williams stepped up to overpower her opponent and run away with the match in just 59 minutes.

Williams broke Arn twice in the first set and three times in the second as the Hungarian wilted on the big stage of a grand slam centre court.

Williams, playing only her second tournament since the US Open last September, said she still had some way to go before she was fully match fit.

"I'm nowhere near where I want to be, but I'm trying to play through it," she said.

"I'm really rusty - I'm just trying to play through the rust."

The 30-year-old American won the Australian Open in 2009 and 2010 but missed the tournament last year through injury.

She is now unbeaten in her past 17 matches at Melbourne Park.

Earlier, Russian 18th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova went down to German Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

AFP

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First posted January 21, 2012 21:34:09

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Venus Williams withdraws from Australian Open

Updated January 10, 2012 08:00:28

Seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams is out of the Australian Open.

"I regret to announce that I am withdrawing from the Australian Open. Thanks for your love and support!," the star announced on Tuesday via her Twitter account.

The former world number one has been receiving treatment for the immune system disease Sjogren's syndrome and also withdrew from last week's Auckland Classic.

On her website she said she was not quite ready to return to tennis.

"After several months of training and treatment, I am making steady progress to top competitive form," she said.

"My diet and fitness regimen have allowed me to make great strides in terms of my health and I am very close to being ready to return to WTA competition.

"I have every intention to return to the circuit in February."

AAP

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First posted January 10, 2012 07:58:03

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AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time which is 11 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)

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Injured Williams out of Brisbane International

Updated January 05, 2012 13:52:58

Serena Williams feels cursed after being forced to withdraw from the Brisbane International with an ankle injury, which has put her Australian Open title bid in jeopardy.

In a dramatic two hours on Pat Rafter Arena, Williams rolled her left ankle late in her 6-2, 6-4 win over Serbian Bojana Jovanoski just after top seed Samantha Stosur was bundled out in the second round.

While the 13-times major singles champion fought through the pain to close out her match, she pulled out of the tournament on Wednesday night following an MRI scan.

Williams now faces an uphill battle to be 100 per cent fit for the Australian Open, starting January 16, not to mention in top form.

Brisbane was the American's tournament return after being sidelined since her US Open loss to Stosur in September.

She has by-passed the Sydney International, meaning she will only have two matches under her belt in four months before the Open at Melbourne Park.

Williams had been due to face Daniela Hantuchova in a Thursday quarter-final but her withdrawal allows the Slovak world number 24 a free passage to the semi-finals.

Now the American is more likely to be nursing a hangover after revealing she would probably drown her sorrows if her scans brought bad news.

"If it's not all right I'm definitely talking to my friend Jack (Daniels) tonight," the 30-year-old told reporters before heading off for the MRI.

Williams, who ironically took off her regular ankle guard at the end of the first set against Jovanovski, says she feels cursed given her last 18 months of injury and illness.

She had a potentially-fatal haematoma and blood clot early last year and has also been plagued by a serious foot injury.

But Williams was upbeat about life and the injury that could prevent an attempt for a sixth Melbourne title.

"I'm fortunate - I could have died," she said. "I'm not bleeding so that's something.

"There's always something positive."

Williams' left ankle buckled while pivoting to turn and chase down a forehand return when leading 6-2, 5-3.

She yelped in pain and then lay motionless on Pat Rafter Arena for several minutes before being helped up to the side of the court for treatment.

Unseeded Czech Iveta Benesova caused the first news grab by cutting Stosur down to size with a 6-4, 6-2 win in just 70 minutes.

In all three appearances at the Brisbane International, the current US Open champion has never advanced past the second round.

The 27-year-old brushed-off the loss and she will head south on Thursday for the Sydney International.

"Hopefully, it was just a bad day and I will bounce back next week and the week after," Stosur said.

It was the first of two upsets for the day with seventh seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova losing to Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 6-0, 6-3.

Sixth seed Serbian Jelena Jankovic moved through to the quarter-finals after defeating Russian Nina Bratchikova 6-3, 6-2.

AAP

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First posted January 04, 2012 21:26:43

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Williams wins despite rolling ankle

Updated January 04, 2012 18:01:04

Five-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams has suffered a scare ahead of the opening major of the year, injuring her ankle in her second-round match at the Brisbane International.

Williams rolled her left ankle late in the match and, after about a 10-minute break, returned to court to defeat Serbian Bojana Jovanovski 6-2, 6-4.

The American hurt the ankle when she pivoted and turned to chase down a forehand return when leading 6-2, 5-3.

She was motionless on Pat Rafter Arena for several minutes before being assisted to the side of the court for treatment.

Williams' ankle was restrapped and fitted with a brace by a tournament physio before she again took the court, basically playing on one leg, to close out the match.

Whether she is able to take the court for her quarter-final against Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova remains to be seen.

If she is fit enough to play, Williams' passage through to the finals will be a relief to tournament officials after US Open champion and major drawcard Sam Stosur lost in straight sets.

It was the second upset for the day with seventh seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova losing to Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 6-0, 6-3.

Sixth-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic moved through to the quarter-finals after defeating Russian Nina Bratchikova 6-3, 6-2.

AAP

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First posted January 04, 2012 17:54:45

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Williams makes winning return in Brisbane

Updated January 02, 2012 20:24:30

Serena Williams says she has fallen out of love with tennis despite recording an impressive comeback win over Chanelle Scheepers in the first round of the Brisbane International.

Playing her first match since losing the US Open final to Samantha Stosur in September, Williams showed why she is the most feared player in the draw as she outgunned Scheepers 6-2, 6-3.

Williams, who missed the last four months of 2011, struggled at times with her first serve but still had too much firepower for the South African, sending down seven aces in the 68-minute victory.

The 30-year-old revealed later she was cutting her schedule back in 2012 as she prepares for life after tennis.

"I just want to be able to do other things that I'm doing and expand on that. I think that helps keep my motivation up," Williams said.

Williams, who has won 13 major singles titles, admits she took the latter part of 2011 off because she was tired and says she did not love the sport any more, if she ever had.

"I don't love tennis today but I'm here," she said.

"I can't live without it - there's a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it.

"It's not that I've fallen out of love with it. I've actually never liked sports and I never understood how I became an athlete.

"I don't like working out, I don't like anything physical. If it involves sitting down or shopping, I'm excellent at it."

Meanwhile, second seed Andrea Petkovic of Germany overcame a second set collapse to defeat Israeli Shahar Peer 7-6 (7-2), 1-6, 6-3.

Petkovic, the Brisbane International runner-up in 2011, had problems with her serve throughout the first two sets but recovered in the third to outlast Peer in just over two hours.

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic breezed into the second round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Austrian Tamira Paszek.

Ivanovic raced through the first set then recovered from a slight wobble in the second to wrap up the match in 79 minutes.

"I really felt I played well and applied a lot of things that I have worked on," the 24-year-old Serb said.

"Still, there is room for improvement but it is the first match (of the year) and I'm very, very happy to be through."

Ivanovic next plays Belgium's Kim Clijsters in a mouth watering second round clash.

The two last met in Miami last year, a match Ivanovic lost despite holding five match points in the third set.

Russia's eighth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova progressed when Slovenia's Polona Hercog withdrew with Pavlyuchenkova leading 6-1, 4-1.

In other matches, Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva thrashed Russian qualifier Vera Dushevina 6-0, 6-0, Czech Republic's Barbora Zahlavova Strycova saw off Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 and American qualifier Vania King upset Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-3, 6-4.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, brisbane-4000

First posted January 02, 2012 16:23:52

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Williams in doubt for Australian Open

Updated December 20, 2011 13:25:06

Former world number one Venus Williams is in doubt for next month's Australian Open after pulling out of a lead-up tournament in New Zealand.

Williams is suffering from Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease, and after playing a number of recent exhibition matches she announced Tuesday she was not ready to play in the Auckland Classic, which starts on January 2.

"We are disappointed to have lost a player of her calibre," tournament director Richard Palmer said.

"While withdrawals of this nature are part and parcel of sport, we sincerely feel for the fans who will also be disappointed by the news of Venus's withdrawal."

Williams, whose ranking has slipped to 102 in the world, has described her medical condition as affecting her energy, causing fatigue and joint pains.

Germany's Sabine Lisicki, the world number 15, is top seed in a field that also includes world top 20 players Peng Shuai of China, grand slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and Italy's Flavia Pennetta.

The Australian Open begins on January 16.

ABC/AFP

Tags: australian-open, tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 20, 2011 11:59:21

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Williams rusty ahead of Wimbledon

Published:Thursday, June 16, 2011 7:23 AESTExpires:Wednesday, September 14, 2011 7:23 AEST

US tennis player Serena Williams has been knocked out of the Eastbourne event in England as she struggles to revive her form after injuries.

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Tags: sport, tennis, sports-injuries, united-kingdom, united-states

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Raising Tennis Aces - The Williams Story

The lives and careers of the tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams are documented, with special attention paid to the training techniques of their father Richard Williams.

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Raising Tennis Aces - The Williams Story

The lives and careers of the tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams are documented, with special attention paid to the training techniques of their father Richard Williams.

Price: $9.98

Click here to buy from Amazon