Just wondered how well everyone thought Serena will do in the coming fortnight
Impressive win today though she didn't have to do particularly much, her serving was of a high standard and she hit some great backhands.
Next up for Serena is Anne Kremer (who surprisingly beat Michaella Kraijcek). I'd be very surprised if she lost that one and then in rd3 it's almost certain to be Nadia Petrova. Petrova is the 5th seed but will be a little rusty having been injured for a while but personally, unless Serena plays a lot better, I'm not sure whether she will get through that one.
If she does make it through to rd4, the on-form Jelena Jankovic will probably be her opponent.
Quarters for me. Think that she can beat Petrova, but doubt that she is fit enough to progress much more. She looked ruthless against Santangelo though. Didn't get the chance to see her today.
Speak of women's tennis, how good is Tamira Paszek going to be? She beat Severine Bremond 1 and 4 today and she turned 16 just a few weeks ago. She got her first WTA title ( beat Camerin in the finals) a few months ago after qualifying for it when she was ranked 259 in the world. I think that she'll be top 50 very soon.
Serena leads Petrova 5-1 on the head-to-heads, Petrova's only win came in 2004 on clay. Serena won 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the 2005 AO quarters on the way to the title.
Petrova wasn't troubled at all by either of her two opponents so far this week. Serena really struggled against Kremer and did well to come through, unless she really ups her game I'm not sure whether she'll get more than a set against Petrova.
Incidentally, Paszek played 3 British juniors in 2006. She beat Naomi 6-3, 6-3 on clay, beat Jade 2 and 3 in rd1 of Wimbledon and beat Naomi 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 on the way to the US Open juniors final. That was an extremely close match for two sets, Naomi just ran out of gas in the decider.
She definately looks to be a fine prospect, only turned 16 last month Last year she took sets off Molik and Dechy, both highly experienced players. Will be interesting to see how she gets on against Zvonereva in rd2, maybe she can get a set
Do you reckon she has the fitness levels to beat Petrova ? Petrova is one of the fittest players on tour. At the moment Serena looks like she's gone overboard on the cream cakes during the off season.
I agree about Jankovic, don't think either of them will get past her
SHe squeezes past Petrova who i think served for it in the second set. Next she plays Jankovic, who is on fire. It will definitely be her hardest match although i think serene has an outside chance of getting through.
Ignore one of the votes for "champion", I hadn't voted before and had to vote to see how others had voted! Well done the others who voted that before the end.
Last year she took sets off Molik and Dechy, both highly experienced players. Will be interesting to see how she gets on against Zvonereva in rd2, maybe she can get a set
