The biggest upset of the 2009 Australian Open happened last night as sixth seed and title favorite Venus Williams lost in the second round to Carla Suarez Navarro.
Top seeds Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina and Ana Ivanovic hope to avoid a similar fate on Friday.
Friday’s Featured Matches
Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[1] v. Ai Sugiyama (JPN)[26]
Jelena Jankovic has scrapped through two rounds of play at Melbourne, but she needs to step up her game if she wants to be taken seriously as a title contender. Kirsten Flipkens, who is currently outside the Top 100 and holds a career high ranking of No. 97, nearly pushed her to three sets in the second round.
Veteran Ai Sugiyama continues to be a consistent player, yet the best she has ever done against Jankovic is win three games in a match at the Qatar Total Open last year. I expect her to win more than a trio of games on Friday given Jankovic’s sluggish form, but I’m still looking for the world number one to advance to the fourth round in straight sets.
Pick: Jelena Jankovic in two sets
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[19] v. Alize Cornet (FRA)[15]
Alize Cornet has overtaken Marion Bartoli for the No. 1 ranking in France and is quickly becoming that nation’s biggest hope for the future. She reached the quarterfinals in Sydney last week and heads into this match with the knowledge that she beat Hantuchova in three sets during the past summer in New Haven.
Hantuchova spent a considerable portion of 2008 on the injured list because of a stress fracture in her right heel. Her results since returning have been mediocre, and the two-time Indian Wells champion ended the season ranked outside the Top 20.
Pick: Alize Cornet in three sets
Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[11] v. Jelena Dokic (AUS)
As inspirational as Jelena Dokic’s comeback has been, she will have to play near perfect tennis to get past Caroline Wozniacki. The young Dane was recently voted OTB’s Newcomer of the Year for 2008, a distinction she heartily deserved after a stellar season.
It’s tough to pick against Dokic after her first two comeback wins in Melbourne, but I just wonder how much emotional—and physical—energy is left in her tank after those two tough victories. After all, it has been a long time since Dokic played this many top players in a row.
Pick: Caroline Wozniacki in two sets
Quotes of the Week
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because we’re in the third round. Maybe that’s it.”
- Australia’s Samantha Stosur when asked about the hype surrounding Jelena Dokic and herself.
“I think tonight was an amazing experience. It’s been the best that I’ve ever had. I don’t expect everybody to understand, of course. But, look, I’m trying my best. I’m fighting and playing for this country. You know, I’m proud to play for this country again.”
- Jelena Dokic after beating Anna Chakvetadze in the second round.
“But is there anything to the odd theory? No. One year I wasn’t able to come back and defend my title. One year I went crazy. A couple years I went completely crazy. So hopefully I’ll be able to stay focused this year.”
- Serena Williams about the theory that she wins the Australian Open on odd years.
Venus, 5-2 up and she becomes a deer in the head lights. Amazing the level of fight in Carla. I always thought clay was her turf but she has just proved me wrong again. Kudos! Still, Venus did fall apart, mental lapse.
The Aussie open and Venus Williams seems it will never be…..