Serena and Venus Williams and mens world number two Roger Federer cruised into the fourth round of the WTA and ATP hardcourt tournament here on Sunday but second seed Dinara Safina crashed out. Reigning Australian Open champion Serena Williams defeated Chinas Peng Shuai 7-5, 6-2 while US fifth seed Venus Williams, the reigning Wimbledon champion, beat Germanys Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 7-5, 6-3.
The sisters could meet in a semi-final at this nine million-dollar event, which saw its greatest upset yet when Australias 42nd-ranked Samantha Stosur stunned Russian second seed Safina 6-1, 6-4. "Im really happy," Stosur said, "I played really well. I executed exactly what I wanted to do." Safina could have become the womens world number one by winning the title.
"Its very disappointing. Thats what Im playing for," Safina said. "I want to be there. Suddenly I go to the court and I dont even fight for it. Its just bad behaviour from my side. Champions, they dont do this. "Its a good punishment for me. I have to get smarter."
Swiss star Federer, a Miami champion in 2005 and 2006, advanced by beating German 28th seed Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 6-1 to book a fourth-round match against American Taylor Dent, who beat Spanish 15th seed Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-3. "It doesnt matter whos in front of me," Federer said. "I just like the thrill of winning and playing well." Dent, the son of retired Australian tennis star Phil Dent, made a comeback in 2008 after missing more than two years with back problems, defeated Federer when both were juniors at a Wimbledon tune-up event. "Its great to see him back," Federer said. "He was always a dangerous player because he was aggressive. Its going to be i
Serbias seventh seed Ana Ivanovic, a finalist one week ago at Indian Wells, also was ousted, falling to Hungarys Agnes Szavay 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. "Im really disappointed," Ivanovic said. "I hardly did anything well. I couldnt really hold my serve. I had so many chances early on. I always was missing by a little bit, and got really down on myself."
Szavay, seeded 25th, will next meet 11th seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who ousted Russias Anna Chakvetadze 6-1, 6-4. But the stunner of the day belonged to Stosur, who took her first victory over a top-10 opponent since she missed much of the 2007 and 2008 season with Lyme disease. "Its a great feeling to beat a top-10 player again," Stosur said. "I came close a few times. Today I got over the line and Im just really pleased. I knew I could do it. It was just a matter of when it was going to happen."
On the eve of her 25th birthday, the Brisbane native won what she called the biggest victory of her career to book a spot in the fourth round against Frances Amelie Mauresmo, who beat Italys Flavia Pennetta 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-2.
"Ive been trying to get a win like this for a long time. I was happy I was able to do it and hopefully there will be more to come," Stosur said. "When I started playing well again I thought it was possible. Now Im going to really enjoy it." Safina plans on a break to try and recapture her hunger for the sport after what she dubbed a disaster.
"It was just a disaster match," Safina said. "She played very good, but from my side, I just can say it was sad the way I played. No excuse from my side. Just basically I wasnt playing." Russian high seeds Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced. Dementieva, the fourth seed, defeated Spains Carla Suarez 6-1, 6-2 while number eight Kuznetsova beat Czech Nicole Vaidisova 6-1, 6-4. Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic defeated Frances Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-1 and US fifth seed Andy Roddick advanced by defeating Russias Dmitry Tursunov 7-6 (11/9), 6-2. Roddick next faces ninth seed Gael Monfils after the Frenchman beat Russias Marat Safin 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3).
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