2011 Australian Open: Maria Sharapova survives early scare while Caroline Wozniacki sails through
A former world number one and 2008 champion, Maria Sharapova continued her attempts on Friday to recapture the title at Melbourne Park.
Seeded fourteenth in the event, Sharapova lost her number spot after injuring her shoulder. Hoping to return to the top, Sharapova believes winning the Australian Open is
one of the first steps.
Opening against Tamarine Tanasugarn and then meeting Virginie Razzano in the second round, Sharapova entered the third round with a no set loss record.
However, her smooth sailing at the event met with a bump when she played Belgian Julia Goerges in the third round today. Having her serve broken twice in the first set and
with 17 unforced errors on her part, Sharapova lost the set 4-6. However, bouncing back in the second set, Sharapova turned over the tables and reversed the score to secure a 6-4 victory. Leading the third set, the Russian enjoyed a 3-0 lead before clinching
another 6-4 victory.
The former world number one struck seven aces and lost 47 of 107 points on service to secure a straight sets victory in almost two hours.
Sharapova moves ahead to play either fourth seed Venus Williams or Andrea Petkovic.
Joining the Russian in the fourth round is the top Dane, Caroline Wozniacki. Although the top seed at the event, Wozniacki still lacks a Grand Slam win. Hoping things will
change in 2011; she continues her run at Melbourne Park after successfully making it to the fourth round.
Maintaining her not set loss record ad losing only 26 of 74 points on service, Wozniacki was able to dismiss twenty ninth seed, Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets. This
was the pairs second meeting this year, they had earlier met at the Medibank International Sydney where Cibulkova had ousted Wozniacki in straight sets.
Returning the favour, Wozniacki secured a 6-4 victory in the first set before wrapping up her straight sets victory with a 6-3 win in the second set.
Playing Wozniacki in the fourth round will be Anastasija Sevastova. Sevastova moved into the fourth round after defeating qualifier Vesna Manasieva. Sevastova secured a
breadstick win in the first set before clinching a 6-3 victory in the second set.
Tags: