Tennis: Djokovic through, Williams sisters sharp at Australian Open
January 24, 2015
World number one Novak Djokovic looks well on course to net his fifth Australian Open title after charging into the second week's play, battling past Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (10-8), 6-3, 6-4.
The Spaniard proved a nuisance early in the game that lasted two-and-a-half hours to end but Djokovic cracked open his opponent, taking the advantage in the tie-break before cruising to more comfortable straight-set wins.
Having overcome a stomach virus, four-time winner Djokovic has cruised past Aljaz Bedene and Andrey Kusnetzov and appears to have shaken off the lag from the first tournament of 2015 in Doha.
"I feel fit now but I have to stay committed to do what I need to do on a daily basis to feel fit now," said the confident Serb. "This is my most successful Grand Slam; I've always played my best tennis here."
Holder Stanislas Wawrinka continued his steady progress through the early rounds with 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Finland's Jarrko Nieminen.
Fourth-seed Wawrinka enjoyed his finest career moment to date at the Australian Open last year, beating Rafael Nadal in the final.
He may be Switzerland's sole focus for the first Grand Slam of the year following Roger Federer's exit, but Wawrinka remains cautious over repeating his outstanding feat this time around.
"I'm feeling good since the beginning of the tournament," said Wawrinka.
"For sure I'm not the focus on the tournament because there's Novak, Rafa coming back from injury, Roger also just lost, there's (Australians) Kyrgios, Tomic still playing.
"For it all doesn't matter. I'm feeling good, I'm feeling great. I'm happy the way I'm playing. To get to the second week again, it's great. So far everything is good for me."
He takes on Guillermo Garcia Lopez of Spain in the next round, whilst Canada's Milos Raonic, who beat Benjamin Becker, and US Open finalist Kei Nishikori safely qualifying for the second week of action.
Wonderful Williams, Wimbledon champ out
There were contrasting fortunes for the leading women players with the Williams sisters bouncing back from early setbacks to move into the fourth round.
Serena, aiming for her 19th Grand Slam title, beat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 while Venus, who last won a Grand Slam in 2008, battled past Camila Giorgi for a place in the Last 16.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon champion and fourth-seed Petra Kvitova was left shattered after Madison Keys pulled off a massive shock, winning 6-4, 7-5.
Keys, trained by former world number one Lindsay Davenport, exhibited a masterclass in clean-hitting and well-placed shots to become the fourth American in the Last 16 of the Australian Open.
"I knew I was going to have to play my best to beat her," said American teenager Keys. "I just tried to stay solid and consistently keep doing what I was trying to do.
"This is my first time in the second week of a grand slam."
rd/sb (Reuters, AP)