Venus surges into quarter-finals at Melbourne

Published>Mon, Jan 25 10 11:29 AM




Venus Williams continued her domination of Francesca Schiavone on Monday, coming back from a set down to defeat the Italian 3-6 6-2 6-1 and reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.



Seventeenth seed Schiavone, who had never beaten Williams in five previous matches, looked set to break the trend after taking the first set and an early break in the second.



Williams broke back immediately to steal the momentum, however, and then steamrolled the Italian in the last set with confident net-play.



She played really well in the first set. I have to give her credit. She just played really aggressively, Williams told reporters. You know, she was making her shots, doing everything she needed to do to win the match.



But, obviously it takes a lot to close out a match, especially on an important match like that one.



I was able just to get some footing back in and start to execute the way I wanted to.



Williams now plays China's Li Na in the quarter-finals after the 16th seed upset world number four Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3.



Williams and Li have played each other just once previously, at the Beijing Olympics where the Chinese triumphed 7-5 7-5 in the quarter-finals.



I guess I don't think of it the same way, Williams said when asked if the loss from the Olympics would help her prepare for the quarter-final.



I'm really just focusing on the now. I don't make it too complicated.



She's a very good player. Obviously to beat Wozniacki, you have to play very well consistently (and) I'm sure she did that.



Li upsets Wozniacki to join Zheng in quarters



Li Na upset Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3 to join compatriot Zheng Jie in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday, the first time two Chinese players have made the last eight of the same grand slam.



In a match in which both players struggled to hold serve, the big-hitting Li grabbed the momentum to seal the first set then raced to a 2-0 lead in the second.



Fourth seed Wozniacki, who had her thigh heavily strapped when 3-1 down in the second set, battled to keep in touch with Li, but the Chinese finally held serve at 5-3, sealing it on the second match point after the Dane slapped a forehand long.



Li will meet American Venus Williams for a place in the semi-finals.



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