Serena and Safina Slide Into Sydney Quarters.

One has to feel a bit bad for the organizers of the Medibank International event in Sydney as their pre-tourney hyping of having nine of the top ten WTA players in the draw became a big bust as Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva all fell in the opening round.

For awhile it looked like Dinara Safina would meet the same fate as she fell down 0-5 in the first set to Agnieska Radwanksa before reeling off nine games in a row to win the first set and then the match 7-5, 6-3.

Serena Williams had no such worries against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez winning easily in just over an hour 6-1, 6-2. Williams’s biggest issues in her match was the sweltering heat and some slight toenail problem that she dealt with on-court with her own clippers.

Safina, who said in her press conference that her recent back injury was not a concern for her will now face Elena Dementieva, who beat Safina in the Sydney finals last year, while Williams will take on Vera Dushevina in the quarterfinals.

It’s hard to say if the recent shaky form from most of the top players, including last week’s play in Brisbane, was due to being early in the season, lack of play, or both. But with the Australian Open starting next week, finding form quickly will be a necessity for any of the top WTA players seeking glory in Melbourne.

Click here to see their press conferences.

Related posts:

1. Dementieva Takes Out Safina Again in Sydney.
2. Serena Struggles as Elena Cruises into Sydney Final.
3. Dementieva Repeats, Gasquet and Baghdatis Meet in Sydney.
4. Update – Safina out of Doha, Serena #1.
5. Doha Preview – Serena/Safina Battle for No.1.

Tagged as: Dinara Safina, Serena Williams