Venus demolishes Duan to end Chinese hopes in Melbourne
>> MELBOURNE: Venus Williams ended Chinese hopes at the Australian Open yesterday, swatting aside Duan Yingying to make the fourth round of the season’s opening Grand Slam for a 10th time.
The 13th seed was in a different league, spanking Duan 6-1, 6-0 on Margaret Court Arena and showing no signs of the elbow injury that forced her out of the doubles with sister Serena.
She will next play German qualifier Mona Barthel who overcame Australian hope Ashleigh Barty 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
If she comes through that encounter, a potential quarter-final with fellow old-timer Svetlana Kuznetsova could await her.
“She can really hit the ball and I’m lucky to have more experience out there today,” said Williams, after spending less than 60 minutes on court.
Remarkably Duan, ranked 87, admitted ahead of the match that she’d never seen Williams play, and would be relying heavily on her coach’s guidance.
This is despite the seven-time Grand Slam winner being one of the game’s most prominent players over the past two decades.
She paid dearly against a veteran who is still a dangerous force, making the fourth round or better at three of the four Grand Slams last year.
Williams, 36, exploited Duan’s weak serve and apparent nerves, racing to a quick break in the opening set, with no way back for the Chinese star. She won a consolation game but that was as good as it got.
Duan, normally an aggressive and powerful player, was never able to get into her groove as Williams dictated the points, pushing her around the court.
The American, the oldest player in the women’s draw and at her 17th Australian Open, didn’t give an inch, breaking Duan first service game in the second set and romping to an easy victory.
Despite the loss, it was an encouraging tournament for the Chinese No.5, the last player from her country standing having reached a Grand Slam third round for the first time.
ESPN DROPS COMMENTATOR
US broadcaster ESPN has dropped commentator Doug Adler after he compared Venus Williams to a “gorilla” at the Australian Open — although he insisted the word he used was “guerrilla”.
ESPN said Adler should have been more careful during his coverage of the seven-time Grand Slam-winner’s win over Stefanie Voegele.
“During an Australian Open stream on ESPN3, Doug Adler should have been more careful in his word selection,” an ESPN statement said.
“He apologised and we have removed him f rom his remaining assignments.”
During the second-round match on Wednesday, Adler, a 59-year-old former player, said: “She [Voegele] misses a first serve and Venus is all over her.
“You see Venus move in and put the gorilla effect on. Charging.”
Viewers were quick to register their distaste on social media, while tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg called it “appalling stuff”.
“Horrifying that the Williams sisters remained subjected to it still in 2017,” he tweeted.
A report on the ESPN website said: “Because the words gorilla and guerrilla are pronounced similarly, it’s impossible to say for certain which word Adler spoke.”