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Russian girls march on in Melbourne
Published: 20 January, 2010, 10:03
Edited: 20 January, 2010, 13:51
Dinara Safina (AFP Photo / Greg Wood)
TAGS: Sport, Safina, Tennis, Grand Slam
Dinara Safina and the rest of Russia's female contingent are on a roll in the early stages of this year's opening Grand Slam – the Australian Open.
Second seed Safina continued her solid start at the Australian Open, imposing her game on Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in a straight sets 6-4, 6-3 second round win.
“In some moments I played not bad, but, I mean, it's good that I win the match and still there is so much room to improve. You know, that's such a good thing. Deep inside you have so much more to bring out. But I think the serve was pretty good today. And that I won. In the next match I can do a little bit more and more, until I don't find everything on the court,” Dinara Safina told the tournament’s official website.
Another Russian – third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova – advanced into the third round at the expense of compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-2, 6-2.
Nadia Petrova was also in form and on point, defeating her Estonian opponent Kaia Kanepi to progress to the next stage, 6-4, 6-4.
Maria Kirilenko, who kicked Maria Sharapova out in the first round, maintained her winning form making easy work of Yvonne Meusburger of Austria, 6-3, 6-1.
There was an early exit for Igor Kunitsyn on the men's side of the draw – the only Russian male player in singles action on Tuesday crashed out to 19th seed Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal made his way into round three after cruising to victory against Lukas Lacko, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
Seventh seed Andy Roddick is joining him there as well – the American wrapped up a straight sets win over Thomaz Bellucci, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
19.01.2010, 12:08
Andreev fails to cope with FedererRussian Igor Andreev gave Roger Federer a real scare in his opening match at the Australian Open, with the World No. 1 having to come from a set down to win in four sets. |
21.01.2010, 14:48
Three Russians through to third round of Australian OpenThe Russian contingent dominated at the Australian Open today as three out of four Russians in singles action made their way into the third round in the first Grand Slam of the year. |
