Sharapova crushes Hamption to advance to round 3

No. 4 seed, former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova of Russia completely crushed No. 144 ranked Jamie Hampton of the USA on Thursday in Melbourne, to advance to round three of the 2012 Australian Open.

The match lasted just 64 minutes, and Sharapova allowed Hampton only one game, taking the match 6-0, 6-1.

It was Sharapova’s first event of the season because of a lingering ankle injury.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova won the Australian Open in 2008.

She will next face German Angelique Kerber, who defeated Canada’s Stephanie Dubois 7-5, 6-1.

Serena Williams wins easily in Melbourne

No. 13 seed, Serena Williams of the USA, had a relatively easy win over No. 44 ranked, Tamira Paszek of Austria in the 1st round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday.

After an uneven start, the 30-year-old former No. 1, Williams, won the last 5 games of the match, serving 4 aces to win one of those games, and served up 12 aces in the match.

Williams’ participation in this year’s event had appeared in doubt after she injured her ankle in Brisbane two weeks ago but she moved well throughout the match and did not appear hampered by the injury.

Cirstea takes Stosur out in 1st round at Australian Open

Unseeded No. 59 ranked Sorana Cirstea of Romania pulled off a big shocker over No. 6 seed Samantha Stosur of Australia with a straight sets win, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 in the first round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

It took only 91 minutes for the Romanian to pull off the huge upset at Stosur’s home Grand Slam. It was the earliest exit for Stosur at the Australian Open since 2005, and continues her miserable showing at Melbourne. In 10 visits, the 27-year-old Stosur has managed just 14 wins and she’s only twice progressed beyond the third round.

Clijsters wins first Australian Open

The 9th time was a charm for Kim Clijsters of Belgium as she claimed her first Australian Open Championship over tough competitor Na Li of China at Melbourne.

It took a new decade, as Clijsters had played eight times from 2000 to 2010. Finally in 2011 she was able to accomplish the feat, winning a hard-fought 3-setter 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Clijsters had reached the final only once before in 2004, and managed only the 3rd round last year.

It was Clijsters’ 4th career Grand Slam singles title. The other three have all been at the U.S. Open, three in a row – 2005, 2009, 2010. She did not play in the U.S. Open from 2006-2008.

Clijsters defeats Zvonareva to reach final

No. 3 seed, #3 Kim Clijsters of Belgium won in straight sets over No. 2 seed, #2 Vera Zvonareva of Russia to reach the Final of the 2011 Australian Open.

Clijsters handled Zvonareva quite easily winning 6-3, 6-3, hitting 18 winners with 18 unforced errors compared to Zvonareva’s 14 winers and 21 unforced errors. Clijsters scored on 4 of the 7 break points she reached against Zvonareva, while Zvonareva converted only 1 of 3 break points against Clijsters.

Li upsets Wozniacki in semifinal

No. 9 seed, Na Li of China, upset World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in a thrilling 3-setter, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 at the 2011 Australian Open.

Wozniacki won the 1st set 6-3, looking like she would easily take the match. She continued looking good in the 2nd set, serving for the match at 5-4. Wozniacki reached match point at 40-30, but Li won the point and the game to break even at 5-5. Li went on to win the set 7-5.

Wozniacki survives scare from Schiavone

No. 1 seed, Caroline Wozniacki survived a scare from No. 6 seed Francesca Schiavone in a Quarterfinal match at the 2011 Australian Open, but prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

It was evident from the start that Schiavone came to play, and the battle was on. Everyone thought Schiavone would be exhausted from her record-long match in round four. She had played more than twice as long total match time during the tournament as Wozniacki. But she came out showing no signs of fatigue.

Sharapova suffers 4th round loss to Petkovic

Former No. 1, Maria Sharapova, was sent packing in the 4th round at the 2011 Australian Open by No. 30 seed, #33 Andrea Petkovic of Germany.

Petkovic won the match in a surprisingly easy fashion in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. This is the first time the 23-year-old Petkovic has reached the Quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament, and is the lowest ranked player remaining in the draw.

Petkovic had reached the fourth round when Venus Williams pulled out injured after just seven points, but looked right at home against a much more experienced Sharapova.

Schiavone outlasts Kuznetsova in record-setting match

French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone of Italy, out dueled her Russian friend, Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the longest women’s singles match in Grand Slam history, winning 6-4, 1-6, 16-14.

The 30-game 3rd set alone took exactly three hours. The first two sets lasted 51 and 53 minutes for a total match time of 4 hours, 44 minutes.

After destroying last year’s finalist, Justine Henin, in straight sets in the third round, Kuznetsova should have been filled with confidence coming in against veteran Schiavone, who has never made it past the fourth round in Melbourne. But it was Schiavone who took Kuznetsova by surprise in the opening set.

Wozniacki reaches quarter-finals with win over Sevastova

World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki has reached the quarter-finals of the 2011 Australian Open in Melbourne with a straight sets win over No. 46 ranked Anastasjia Sevastova, 6-3, 6-4.

Wozniacki, 20-years-old, double-faulted to give up a break in the first game and trailed Sevastova 3-1 before sailing through the next six games.

Sevastova, also 20-years-old, fought back to 4-4 after being a break down in the second set, but served up two unforced errors to hand it straight back and Wozniacki sealed the match after whipping a cross-court forehand winner.