Williams battles into Toronto last 16, Muguruza through
TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Venus Williams was forced to draw on all of her vast experience before overcoming Czech youngster Katerina Siniakova to reach the last 16 of the WTA Toronto hard court tournament yesterday.
The 37-year-old American ninth seed, who began playing on the professional circuit before 21-year-old Siniakova was even born in 1996, eventually prevailed 7-5, 7-5 in 1hr 39min.
It was a satisfying win for Williams, who shrugged off the failure to convert a string of break points to raise her game when it mattered late in the second set.
Williams, who will be chasing her third US Open crown next month after reaching the Wimbledon and Australian Open finals this year, said she had remained calm against Siniakova even when errors prevented her from taking control.
At one stage Siniakova saved eight consecutive break points to ensure she always remained in touch. Williams eventually converted only four of 13 break points.
“She played so well, so competitive,” Williams said afterwards. “I had a few errors, but I think the key is to keep going for it and hopefully you’ll get some in at some point.
“On those points she played some great tennis. And what can you do except go back and try again?” Williams said of Siniakova’s multiple break-point saves.
Williams will now face Elina Svitolina in the next round.
Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza advanced with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens.
Top seed Karolína Pliskova of the Czech Republic, meanwhile, eased past Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3.
Two seeded Russian players were among those to make an early exit.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded eighth, was the highest-profile casualty, tumbling out to Catherine Bellis of the United States 6-4, 7-5.
Elena Vesnina, the 16th seed, was sent packing by Australia’s Ashleigh Barty.
Barty, a 21-year-old Queenslander who has also played professional Twenty20 cricket, won a gripping three-setter 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Other seeds to fall by the wayside on Wednesday included Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova and Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.
Fifteenth seed Sevastova crashed 6-3, 6-4 to Japan’s Naomi Osaka, while Lucie Safarova accounted for 11th seed Cibulkova 6-2, 6-4.
