Serena Williams Sizzles With 6-1, 6-4 Win Over Tsvetana Pironkova At Yarra Valley Classic | Tennis News

Serena Williams continued her impressive Australian Open preparations with a straight-sets thrashing of Tsvetana Pironkova Wednesday even as top-ranked Ashleigh Barty struggled. Williams, 39, has been in belligerent kind on the Yarra Valley Classic and overpowered the Bulgarian with a 6-1, 6-4 victory in 74 minutes. “So far, so good. It’s special to play here with what’s going on in the world,” mentioned Williams, who solely misplaced 4 video games in opposition to Daria Gavrilova in her opener on Monday. Williams, aiming for a record-equalling twenty fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, broke Pironkova first up and stored her foot on the fuel with 25 winners and 6 aces.

The American will play world quantity six Karolina Pliskova or compatriot Danielle Collins within the quarter-finals.

Barty, nevertheless, was pushed to the brink, however averted an early exit at Melbourne Park.

World primary Barty additionally had a fright in her match in opposition to Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic, however recovered from a second-set stutter to win 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.

“Mid-match I lacked execution… but happy to get it on my terms in the end,” Barty mentioned after a fast turnaround, having crushed Ana Bogdan in straight units on Tuesday night time.  

Barty, hoping to interrupt her nation’s 43-year singles title drought on the Australian Open, will face Shelby Rogers of the United States subsequent.

Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin was additionally pushed laborious by American Jessica Pegula, dropping the primary set and discovering herself 4-1 down within the second  earlier than prevailing 5-7, 7-5, 6-2. 

“I was happy the way I was able to change things in the second set… I found my groove,” mentioned Kenin, who will play Garbine Muguruza subsequent in a rematch of final yr’s Australian Open last. 

World quantity 5 Elina Svitolina additionally needed to come from behind to beat 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-7 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2.

She’ll subsequent face Twentieth-ranked Belgium’s Elise Mertens, who knocked out Caroline Garcia of France 7-6 (7/1), 6-3. 

Promoted

But world quantity two Halep, like Williams, bucked the pattern and downed Laura Siegemund in straight units to arrange a Gippsland Trophy quarter-final in opposition to Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, who upset French Open champion Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-2.

“I’m really happy with both matches, so it’s good to be back,” mentioned Halep.