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Serena Williams reaches Dubai quarters
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-03 09:35
Australian Open champion Serena Williams overcame a rough first set and
tricky wind Wednesday to beat Russia's Elena Bovina 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 and reach the
Dubai Women's Open quarterfinals.
US Serena Williams
exults after defeating Russia's Elena Bovina 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the
last eight of the Dubai Open. [AFP] | Williams was
making her first tour appearance since a stomach illness forced her to withdraw
before the Paris Indoor quarterfinals last month.
"I don't know what I was doing there tonight," she said. "I think I was
trying to kill myself out there. It was really windy and I hadn't played in the
wind. All my shots were going out of here."
Top-ranked Lindsay Davenport had an easier time, defeating qualifier Jie
Zheng of China 6-2, 7-5. Davenport will next meet Conchita Martinez, who ousted
seventh-seeded Nathalie Dechy of France 6-1, 6-2.
French Open champ advanced Anastasia Myskina when Marion Bartoli of France
quit while trailing 4-2 because of tendinitis in her left knee. Myskina faces
eighth-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, who downed Li Na of China 6-3, 7-6
(8).
Williams, seeded second, next plays Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, who beat
Elena Likhovtseva of Russia 7-5, 6-4. The other quarterfinal pits wild card
Sania Mirza of India against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia-Montenegro — both won
Tuesday.
Williams lost the opening five games and the first set, raising the prospect
she would follow sister Venus out of the tournament. She then regrouped behind
booming serves and strong groundstrokes to take the next two sets.
Williams has won both her matches against Hantuchova.
"It is a difficult court to play on," Hantuchova said. "Very fast and
sometimes you feel you have no control over the ball."
Davenport won the last four games to eliminate Jie.
"I started well and finished well, but played some so-so games in the
middle," said Davenport, who had a first-round bye.
Davenport has advanced to the final of her last two events — the Tokyo
Indoors last month and the Australian Open in January.
Myskina reached her fourth consecutive Dubai quarterfinals in four
appearances, but has yet to advance further.
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 | | | Venus out of Dubai Open after 1st round | | |  | | | Milan Derby: AC Milan 1-0 Inter Milan | | |  | | | Tiozzo regains his title | | |
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