Women Tennis News Update – Australian Open (01-21-13)

Written by: Staff on 20th January 2013

Women Tennis News Update - Australian Open (01-21-13)

epa03545405 Maria Sharapova of Russia in action during her 4th round match against Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2013. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Australian Open

Singles – Fourth Round: (2) Maria Sharapova def. Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-0

This is pretty amazing: Maria Sharapova now has five 6-0 sets in four matches here. But she is still just #2 in the rankings. Kirsten Flipkens won’t be making the Top Thirty yet, but if she can keep playing as she has played this past few months, it is likely that it will happen soon.

Singles – Fourth Round: (4) Agnieszka Radwanska def. (13) Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-4

Still no losses this year for Agnieszka Radwanska — but she still hasn’t moved in the rankings, either. She leaves Ana Ivanovic no better than #13.

Singles – Fourth Round: (19) Ekaterina Makarova def. (5) Angelique Kerber 7-5 6-4

Ekaterina Makarova must really love this place. She’s made the quarterfinal two years in a row! That should keep her Top Twenty. Angelique Kerber will probably stay #5, but she won’t clinch just yet.

Singles – Fourth Round: (6) Li Na def. (18) Julia Goerges 7-6(8-6) 6-1

Li Na suddenly finds herself with a chance to make the Top Five — reach the semifinal and she is in. Too bad she has to face Radwanska next; it was Radwanska who gave her her only loss so far this year. Julia Goerges will not rise above the #18 ranking she came in with, although she doesn’t seem likely to fall.

Doubles – Third Round: (1) Errani/Vinci def. (15) Hsieh/Peng 6-4 0-6 7-5

Errani/Vinci are off to an inconsistent start this year, and they still have a lot to defend, but at least they’ve earned enough points to matter toward their ranking.

Doubles – Third Round: (12) Williams/Williams def. (5) Petrova/Srebotnik 6-2 6-3

Nadia Petrova would have been #3 had she won this. As it is, she’ll fall just a little short. Katarina Srebotnik will probably be #15. As for the Williams Sisters, it feels as if they’ll be Australian Open champions….

Doubles – Third Round: (4) Makarova/Vesnina def. (13) Begu/Niculescu 4-6 6-1 6-2

Ekaterina Makarova defends her points; Elena Vesnina needs one more win to defend hers. Should the Russians win their next match, Makarova will very likely hit the Top Ten; Vesnina is already there. We currently show the Top Ten as follows:

1..(1) VINCI …………. 9170*

2..(2) ERRANI ………….9170*

3..(3) HLAVACKOVA ………7340

4..(4) HRADECKA ………..7340

5..(5) PETROVA ……….. 7310

6..(7) KIRILENKO ……… 6430

7..(6) RAYMOND ……….. 6405

8..(8) HUBER …………. 6290

9..(9) VESNINA ……….. 5710*

10.(10) LLAGOSTERA VIVES …5330*

Doubles – Third Round: Soler-Espinosa/Suarez Navarro def. (6) Huber/Martinez Sanchez 7-6(7-5) 2-6 6-4

Liezel Huber will probably stay #8, and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez may even gain a ranking spot, but this is still pretty shocking.

Mixed Doubles – First Round: (4) Huber/Mirnyi def. Black/Hanley 6-3 6-2

An interesting contest of very ex-doubles partners. Cara Black seems to be back in women’s doubles, but perhaps not yet in Mixed. This goes pretty strongly against the Mixed rankings, which would have promoted Black/Hanley to the #5 seeds and dropped Huber/Mirnyi to #8.

Mixed Doubles – First Round: (5) Petrova/Bhupathi def. Rodionova/Rojer 6-4 6-2

Mixed Doubles – First Round: Hantuchova/Fognini def. Grandin/R Ram 6-2 6-3

Mixed Doubles – First Round: Hradecka/Cermak def. Mattek-Sands/Tecau 4-6 7-6(7-5) 10-8 (Match TB)

Mixed Doubles – First Round: Llagostera Vives/Marrero def. Martinez Sanchez/Cabal 6-4 6-3

Another contest of ex-partners, but Nuria Llagostera Vives did a better job of snagging a partner here.

Mixed Doubles – First Round: Peschke/Matkowski def. Uhlirova/Sa 6-3 7-5

This, at least, accords with the Mixed rankings, which would have promoted Peschke/Matkowski to the #7 seeds.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Agnieszka Radwanska, Australian Open, Ekaterina Makarova, Kirsten Flipkens, Maria Sharapova, Sports, Tennis News