SHARAPOVA BRIGHTENS PROCEEDINGS AT THE DFS CLASSIC
Maria Sharapova made a welcome return to the grass courts
of the DFS Classic today as she stormed into the third round
with an impressive 6-4,6-2 victory over American Ahsha Rolle.
The top seed and two-time defending champion delighted the
sell-out crowd who were forced to wait for her for almost
an hour following a rain delay. After the weather washed out
much of Tuesday’s play, all scheduled singles matches
were completed today.
“It feels good to be back. It was a good first match
to have as physically I feel good just now,” said Sharapova.
“Her serve is pretty big, so I had to take my opportunity
and chances when I could. It’s great to be back in Birmingham
though, every time I come back everyone is so welcoming and
I love that.”
The world number four now extends her win streak at the DFS
Classic, held at the Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham to
11 matches having won back to back titles in 2004 and 2005.
She also reached the semi finals on her debut in 2003 as a
qualifier.
British number four Sarah Borwell put up a strong fight before
bowing out in the second round in two tights sets to Jamea
Jackson. The American, at 81, is 176 places above her in the
Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings. Borwell’s reward will
be a career high ranking when the new list is published next
Monday.
“I had my chances in the second set, but didn’t
take them,” said Borwell. “If I had served as
well as I did in the first round then I would have played
a lot better today. You can’t afford to let chances
slip by against quality opposition like that.”
Earlier, rain delayed first round action was completed with
British number one Anne Keothavong bowing out to Eleni Daniilidou
of Greece 6-3,6-0. Daniilidou has one of the best records
on grass on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour over the last few years,
having gone 19-10 on the surface since 2002.
“I’m disappointed. It’s not the performance
I wanted to give in big tournament like this,” said
Keothavong. “I had my chances, but I just seemed to
lose confidence in what I was doing. Just a bad day at the
office really.”
Second seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy kicked off her campaign
with an impressive 6-0,4-6,6-1 victory over Maria Vento-Kabchi
of Venezuela while fourth seed Elena Likhovtseva outgunned
fellow Russian Olga Poutchkova 6-2,6-2 to move into the third
round. There were also victories for 5th seed Ai Sugiyama
of Japan, 6th seed Marian Bartoli of France, 8th seed Jelena
Jankovic, the runner-up from last year, and 14th seed Sania
Mirza of India.
Thursday’s third round action on centre court kicks
off with 5th seed Ai Sugiyama up against 12th seed Mara Santangelo
of Italy, followed by 8th seed Jelena Jankovic against Jamea
Jackson and then top seed Maria Sharapova against Na Li of
China.
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