Venus tipped after quarters berth at Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Venus Williams became the favourite yesterday to win the Dubai Open title for the second successive year after reaching the quarter-finals with a devastating run of eight games in a row.
This was not due just to the quality of Venus’ finish in a 7-5, 6-0 win over the initially impressive Olga Govortsova, but also to shock defeats for Caroline Wozniacki and Svetlana Kuznetsova, the two top seeds.
The third-seeded Venus was within one point of going 1-5 down against the Belarussian, who struck the ball with great freedom and fluency early on, but became suddenly inhibited as Venus made her comeback.
Govortsova was unable to close out the set at 5-3, suddenly began timing the ball less well, and served a double fault to lose the first set.
After that the five-time former Wimbledon champion was unstoppable, getting more first serves in, moving forward more often, and turning an anxious start into a rout.
Wozniacki slipped to a stunning 6-2, 7-5 defeat to Shahar Peer, the first Israeli athlete ever to compete in the United Arab Emirates, who notched one of the best wins of her career despite the distraction of 25 bodyguards, constant security discipline, and the need to play all her matches on a cramped outside court.
Peer will play for the fourth time on the same outside court when she takes on Li Na, the Australian Open quarter-finalist.
Li Na came from a set and 2-5 down to Marion Bartoli of France, before taking 11 games in a row to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.