Williams Sisters Move Closer to An All Williams Final!

June 30th, 2008

London, England

With the Middle Sunday gone and the Williams sisters moving closer to an All Williams Final, Wimbledon is abuzz with activity as today the Round of 16 matches were underway. Both Venus and Serena were scheduled to play on Court 2. Venus was up first against Alisa Kleybanova, who took out Daniela Hantuchova earlier in the tournament. Venus started off good, but her play slowly detiorated, but she wasn't ever in trouble of losing. Venus coasted to a 6-3, 6-4 victory and moves on. Younger sister, Serena was facing off against fellow American, Bethanie Mattek in the Round of 16. Serena, like Venus started off well and faltered slightly in the second set. But in the end, she too moved on with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova did not have as much luck however. Both failed to reach the Quarter-Finals, making it the first slam since the Australian Open in 1997, that no top 3 seed has reached the Quarter-Finals. Jankovic had been bothered by a injured knee, and lost to Tamarine Tanasugarn, 6-3, 6-2 all the way out on Court 18. Kuznetsova fell to rising star, Agnieszka Radwanska, who also defeated Kuznestova in the 3rd Round at the Australian Open, 6-4, 1-6. 7-5.

Others to make the Quarter-Finals include Jie Zheng, Nicole Vaidasova, Nadia Petrova and Elena Dementieva. Tuesday is Quarter-Finals day for the women at Wimbledon. The heavy favorites, the Williams sisters look to move into the Semi-Finals of a slam together for the first time since Wimbledon 2003.

Results:

Centre Court:

(14)Agnieszka Radwanska d. (4)Svetlana Kuznetsova - 6-4, 1-6, 7-5

Court 1:

(18)Nicole Vaidasova d. (8) Anna Chakvetadze - 4-6, 7-6(0), 6-3

Court 2:

(7)Venus Williams d. Alisa Kleybanova - 6-3, 6-4

(6)Serena Williams d. Bethanie Mattek - 6-3, 6-3

Court 3:

Jie Zheng d. (15)Agnes Szavay - 6-3, 6-4

(21)Nadia Petrova d. Alla Kudryavtseva - 6-1, 6-4

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Lost Round 3 (Zheng)

2. Jelena Jankovic - Lost Round of 16 (Tanasugarn)

3. Maria Sharapova - Lost Round 2 (Kudryavtseva)

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Lost Round of 16 (Radwanksa)

5. Elena Dementieva - Quarter-Finals

6. Serena Williams - Quarter-Finals

7. Venus Williams - Quarter-Finals

8. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round of 16 (Vaidasova)

9. Dinara Safina - Lost Round 3 (Peer)

10. Daniela Hantuchova - Lost Round 2 (Kleybanova)