Serena Williams, after Venus’ defeat, powered into the Australian Open semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Dominika Cibulkova.
China’s Li Na overcame poor serving and an errant forehand in her first set against Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova to win her second Grand Slam.
Maria Sharapova has crashed out of the Australian Open as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Victoria Azarenka kept their title bids intact.
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/ 26 January 2009
Elena Dementieva downplayed any suggestions she was the favourite for the Australian Open title after she romped into the quarterfinals on Monday.
Top seeds Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova both moved smoothly into the last 16 at the French Open on Saturday. Federer outplayed close friend Mario Ancic of Croatia, winning 6-3, 6-4 6-2 in cool, rainy, evening conditions on the Philippe Chatrier Centre Court. Earlier in the day, Sharapova defeated Italy’s Karin Knapp 7-6 (7/4), 6-0.
World number one Roger Federer, in search of his first title of 2008, took no chances on Sunday as he moved smoothly into the third round of the Indian Wells Masters Series. The top-seeded Swiss, who enjoyed a first-round bye, defeated Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 6-2 in his first ATP outing since a first-round ouster at Dubai last week.