Serena Williams overcame an error-strewn start Friday to thwart Anastasia Potapova and set up a blockbuster fourth-round clash with seventh...
Serena Williams overcame an error-strewn start Friday to thwart Anastasia Potapova and set up a blockbuster fourth-round clash with seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open.
The 23-time Grand Slam had 31 unforced errors but wore down the Russian 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in 97 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
The 10th seed had been in strong form so far in Melbourne as she chases Margaret Court’s record 24 Grand Slam tally, but was out-of-sorts in an error-strewn start to fall down a break.
But Potapova, 19, had a meltdown trying to serve out the first set with five double faults squandering the golden opportunity. A refocused Williams then lifted her intensity and won a tiebreak before cruising through the second set.
Williams, the seven-time Australian Open champion, will on Sunday play Sabalenka who thrashed American Ann Li 6-3, 6-1, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Hsieh Su-Wei, who has beaten Bianca Andreescu in the last match, came back from 3-5 down in the third set and reeled off our straight games to beat Sara Errani 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 and reach the fourth round. The world No 1 in doubles will play 19th seed Marketa Vondrousova next.
Last year’s finalist Garbine Muguruza beat Zarina Diyas 6-1, 6-1...
