Australian Open
Venus v Sharapova in Oz Open
2013-01-16 11:56
Melbourne - Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams disposed of Alize
Cornet in straight sets on Wednesday to set up a tantalising third round
clash with Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open.
The
32-year-old, playing her 18th year on tour, drew on all her experience
to ease past the Frenchwoman 6-3, 6-3 on centre court in 77 minutes.
Awaiting
her next is world number two Sharapova, who crushed her second round
opponent Misaki Doi of Japan 6-0, 6-0 in a dominant display that
followed a previous whitewash in the first round.
Williams has
been battling injury and illness in the past two years and her ranking
has dropped. But she has clawed her way back to be 26 and ended last
year by claiming her 44th career title in Luxemburg.
She knows she will have to dig deep against Sharapova, who has won 27 titles and is hungry for more.
"I
look at the draw, I'm not superstitious. I play Maria and I better
bring my best game against her," she said immediately after the match.
Sharapova
has the edge in head-to-heads, leading 4-3 with their most recent
meeting on clay in Rome last year, when she won 6-4, 6-3.
"There
are certainly no secrets coming into that match-up. We've played against
each other many times," said Sharapova, the 2008 Australian champion.
"Despite
the fact that she might not be seeded high or didn't play for a little
bit, she's still a very experienced player and a tremendous athlete.
"Going out there, there won't be too many secrets. I hope for it to be a great match."
Williams said she was not fazed by Sharapova's form and her consecutive double bagels.
"I
don't think about things that way. I play the ball. There's going to be
days when you play great and win, and there's going to be days when you
play not as great and you win," she said.
"Whatever day that is, you have to win. It's not about for me I have to play perfect every match. I don't have that mentality."