The spectators looked on in total disbelief as the eight-time Grand Slam champion appeared out of sorts against Israel's Tzipora Obziler in the second round clash of the $600,000 Bangalore Open at the KSLTA courts here on Wednesday...
There was a huge roar form the small gathering when former world No 1 Serena Williams walked on court for the first time in India. But the roar died down just as quickly. Two double faults and an unforced error later, the American was staring at three break points on her serve.
The spectators looked on in total disbelief as the eight-time Grand Slam champion appeared out of sorts against Israel's Tzipora Obziler in the second round clash of the $600,000 Bangalore Open at the KSLTA courts here on Wednesday.
The Israeli veteran came up with a brilliant backhand pass to go 1-0 straightaway. The die-hard fans, a handful actually, watched the carnage of seeds on centre court since morning. At that stage, they would have been pardoned if thoughts of another upset ran through their minds.
Moreover, Serena was coming off a lay-off following gum surgery. Her last match was during her quarterfinal defeat to Jelena Jankovic at the Australian Open. Besides the rustiness, the flying balls and the erring linesmen only made matters doubly difficult for the three-time Aussie Open champion.
Early promise
Fortunately for her, Serena was able to cut down on the errors as the match progressed. Besdies, Obziler's fight after the early promise fizzled out. And Serena, despite being far from impressive, was able to stop the carnage on centre court with a 7-5, 6-0 victory in 75 minutes.
“I didn't feel 100 percent out there,” Serena admitted. “The ball was flying and I made so many errors.”
The encounter under lights will be remembered more for the errors than any brilliance from the two players. In a match that never rose above the mediocre, Serena did come up with those blistering winners on both flanks, but they were few and far between on the day.
The two players traded breaks in the first four games. Obziler did mix it up initially, catching Serena off-guard with her pace of play. “I just couldn't get her rhythm,” Serena revealed. But as the match wore on, she could counter her opponent's game plan as well as minimise on the errors.
Serena broke Obziler with a sizzling backhand crosscourt winner in the 12th game to take the opening set.
Thereafter, despite not being on top, Serena still managed to call the shots. Obziler had break opportunities in the first and third games, but couldn't convert them. Serena then waltzed through to take the set and match 6-0.
In a late night doubles quarterfinal, China's Shuai Peng and Tiantian Sun sent the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, packing with a 5-7, 6-2, 11-9 victory.
Amanmuradova wins
Earlier, Akgul Amanmuradova, who put out defending champion Yaroslava Shvedova in the opener, continued her impressive run. On Wednesday, she shocked fifth-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary in a three-set thriller, winning 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
A little later, Anastasia Rodionova joined Amanduradova in the quarterfinals with a stunning 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win over sixth-seeded Sybille Bammer of Austria. Amanmuradova was a trifle slow to start with. No stranger to India — five of her eight ITF titles have come in India — the 6'3'' girl began to stagger Szavay in a battle of the big servers.
The Uzbek floored the Hungarian with a barrage of aces. If not making one, she was serving really big and forcing weak returns from her opponent, which she duly swatted for winners. In all, she served 16 aces. “She played really well. She served so many aces. It was tough to return her serves,” said a despondent Szavay.
After losing the first set with a break in the third game, Amanmuradova upped her game to push the Hungarian further and further into a corner. She took the second set in a tie-break and then breezed through the third to book a place in the quarterfinals.
I round: Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzb)/ Olga Savchuk (Ukr) bt Zi Yan/ Jie Zheng (Chn) 6-3, 3-6, 10-8; Ekaterina Dzehalevich (Blr)/ Monica Niculescu (Rom) bt Agnes Szatmari (Rom). Aurelie Vedy (Fra) 4-6, 6-4, 10-7.
ACTION TODAY
Centre Court: 11.00 am: Olga Savchuk (Ukr) vs Zi Yan (Chn); Vera Zvonareva (Rus) vs Agnes Szatmari (Rom); Chunmei Ji/ Shengnan Sun (Chn) vs Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzb)/ Olga Savchuk (Ukr); Not before 5.00 pm: Shuai Peng (Chn) vs Venus Williams (US); Jelena Jankovic (Srb) vs Sanda Mamic (Cro); Anastasia Rodionova/ Yaroslava Shvedova (Rus) vs Ekaterina Dzehalevich (Blr)/ Monica Niculescu (Rom)
