In a flawless opening session at the Australian Open, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams demonstrated their dominance, setting the stage for a potential third-round showdown. The tennis stalwarts showcased their prowess by dispatching opponents Olga Puchkova and Galina Voskoboeva, respectively, with a combined loss of merely one game between them.
Sharapova, who entered the tournament amidst fitness concerns due to a collarbone injury suffered just before Christmas, swiftly dispelled any doubts. The Russian star ‘double-bageled’ her compatriot Puchkova, demonstrating a commanding performance on the court. Reflecting on her match, Sharapova stated, “After a couple of close games, I started to concentrate a bit better. Today was a good scoreline.”
Despite the flawless victory, Sharapova acknowledged the continuous quest for improvement, saying, “It’s tough to feel completely satisfied. You always want to improve on things and work on certain things that you feel will help you in the later rounds towards the end of the second week.”
Venus Williams, arriving in Melbourne on the back of a triumph in Luxembourg in October—her first singles title in almost three years—likewise sailed through her opening match. Williams expressed her satisfaction with the efficient win, stating, “It’s nice to spend less time on court and not be in long sets. A win is a win no matter what it is, but it’s nice when it’s more routine.”
The day’s victories extended beyond Sharapova and Williams, with in-form fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, sixth seed Li Na, and home favorite Sam Stosur securing their places in the next round. Radwanska faced a potential challenge when Australian wild card Bojana Bobusic served for the first set, but the Pole rallied and claimed the next nine games to secure a 7-5, 6-0 victory.
Li, the 2011 runner-up, displayed her class with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 win against Sesil Karatantcheva, while Stosur faced a tougher challenge from Chang Kai-Chen of Chinese Taipei before clinching a 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 triumph. As the tournament progresses, the anticipation builds for the potential clash between Sharapova and Williams, promising a thrilling spectacle in the rounds to come.