Fedex eases past gutsy raonic
22 Jan 2013 1:31 AM GMT
Roger Federer thwarted a powerful serving performance from Milos Raonic to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Monday.
Raonic was serving in excess of 230 kilometres (143 miles) per hour but Federer made enough inroads to post a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win in 1hr 53min and reach his 35th consecutive appearance in the last eight of a major.
Federer, 30, the holder of 17 major championships, moved into a showdown against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who defeated countryman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 earlier on Monday.
Five-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams blasted into the quarterfinals on Monday, sweeping aside Russian 14th seed Maria Kirilenko in straight sets.
The third seed stormed through 6-2, 6-0 and will play fellow American Sloane Stephens for a place in the semifinals, where she could potentially face defending champion Victoria Azarenka.
In winning, Williams made her 35th Grand Slam quarterfinal as she seeks to add to her 15 major titles.
‘I played really well. I didn’t expect to play so well. I was like ‘wow’,’ she said. ‘I saw that I had 95 percent first serves in the first set and thought, ‘Who is this girl?’, because I don’t usually do that.’
British third seed Andy Murray capitalised on the weakened condition of an ailing Gilles Simon as he marched into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday.
The US Open champion was too physical for the French 14th seed, still struggling after a marathon match over the weekend, as he won 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 in 1hr 35min on Hisense Arena.
Murray, twice a runner-up in Melbourne and a semi-finalist last year, will take on another Frenchman, Jeremy Chardy, in the last eight on Wednesday.
Murray broke Simon’s serve eight times and hit 32 winners with just 26 unforced errors, while the Frenchman could hardly break into a run inside the final set.
‘I have to try and focus on my side of the court. He’s one of the best movers on the tour and he was clearly struggling in his movement today,’ Murray said.
AZARENKA STRO LLS INTO LAST EIGHT Defending champion Victoria Azarenka moved into the quarter-finals with a simple win against Elena Vesnina. World number one Azarenka triumphed 6-1 6-1 to book a meeting with Svetlana Kuznetsova, who knocked out 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
SANIA-BOB MOVE INTO LAST 8 Sania Mirza and her new American partner Bob advancing to quarterfinals with a come-from-behind win. The third seeded Indo-American team defeated the US team of Abigail Spears and 4-6, 6-1, 10-4 in the second round. They will now fight it out with Czech team of Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak for a place in the semifinals.pti
BHUPATHI-NESTOR BITE THE DUST India’s challenge ended in the men’s doubles event of the Australian Open with the defeat of Mahesh Bhupathi and Daniel Nestor. The fifth seeded Bhupathi and Canadian partner Nestor were sent packing 3-6, 6-4, 3-6 by the unseeded Italian combo of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini in the second round.pti
Raonic was serving in excess of 230 kilometres (143 miles) per hour but Federer made enough inroads to post a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win in 1hr 53min and reach his 35th consecutive appearance in the last eight of a major.
Federer, 30, the holder of 17 major championships, moved into a showdown against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who defeated countryman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 earlier on Monday.
Five-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams blasted into the quarterfinals on Monday, sweeping aside Russian 14th seed Maria Kirilenko in straight sets.
The third seed stormed through 6-2, 6-0 and will play fellow American Sloane Stephens for a place in the semifinals, where she could potentially face defending champion Victoria Azarenka.
In winning, Williams made her 35th Grand Slam quarterfinal as she seeks to add to her 15 major titles.
‘I played really well. I didn’t expect to play so well. I was like ‘wow’,’ she said. ‘I saw that I had 95 percent first serves in the first set and thought, ‘Who is this girl?’, because I don’t usually do that.’
British third seed Andy Murray capitalised on the weakened condition of an ailing Gilles Simon as he marched into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday.
The US Open champion was too physical for the French 14th seed, still struggling after a marathon match over the weekend, as he won 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 in 1hr 35min on Hisense Arena.
Murray, twice a runner-up in Melbourne and a semi-finalist last year, will take on another Frenchman, Jeremy Chardy, in the last eight on Wednesday.
Murray broke Simon’s serve eight times and hit 32 winners with just 26 unforced errors, while the Frenchman could hardly break into a run inside the final set.
‘I have to try and focus on my side of the court. He’s one of the best movers on the tour and he was clearly struggling in his movement today,’ Murray said.
AZARENKA STRO LLS INTO LAST EIGHT Defending champion Victoria Azarenka moved into the quarter-finals with a simple win against Elena Vesnina. World number one Azarenka triumphed 6-1 6-1 to book a meeting with Svetlana Kuznetsova, who knocked out 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
SANIA-BOB MOVE INTO LAST 8 Sania Mirza and her new American partner Bob advancing to quarterfinals with a come-from-behind win. The third seeded Indo-American team defeated the US team of Abigail Spears and 4-6, 6-1, 10-4 in the second round. They will now fight it out with Czech team of Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak for a place in the semifinals.pti
BHUPATHI-NESTOR BITE THE DUST India’s challenge ended in the men’s doubles event of the Australian Open with the defeat of Mahesh Bhupathi and Daniel Nestor. The fifth seeded Bhupathi and Canadian partner Nestor were sent packing 3-6, 6-4, 3-6 by the unseeded Italian combo of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini in the second round.pti
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