Black Tennis Pros

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SYDNEY — Serena Williams stormed into the semi-finals of the Sydney International on Wednesday, cranking up the heat on her opponents ahead of next week's Australian Open.

The American world number one tossed aside Russian Vera Dushevina 6-2, 6-2, making it just seven games she has dropped on her way to the last four of the Sydney tournament.

Williams, strong favourite to lift her fifth Australian Open crown and her 12th Grand Slam, takes on world number 27 Aravane Rezai of France in Thursday's semi-finals.


Rezai won her third match of the tournament against Italian Flavia Pennetta, 6-3, 6-0 on Wednesday.

In the bottom half of the draw, Belarus sixth seed Victoria Azarenka is through to the semi-finals after beating Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 7-5, while defending champion Elena Dementieva was due to face world number two Dinara Safina later Wednesday.

"I definitely enjoy playing in the heat," Williams said of steamy Melbourne, home to the Open. "I usually enjoy playing in the heat. I live in Florida, so it's all about hot weather there.

"So I think maybe that's one of the reasons why I do so well down here.

"The past couple of times I won it's been extremely hot, so I expect the same temperatures again."

Asked during her post-match press conference how close she was to her best form, Williams said: "I always try to get there usually around the semi-finals and finals of the Grand Slams.

"I'm just doing the best that I can now to get there. Hopefully I have a long way to go, which I think is always good."

Williams said she was expecting her toughest match of the week against Rezai.

"I haven't played her, but I know her game," she said. "I played her in doubles and (sister) Venus has played her before.

"She's a good player and she's really young. She has a lot of drive. I think she can be really good. It'll definitely be my toughest match yet."

Azarenka had to again work hard to stay alive in the tournament, taking two hours 20 minutes to extinguish the challenge of the 24th-ranked Cibulkova.

So far Azarenka has been taken to three sets in all her three matches at the tournament.

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At the AAMI Classic in Kooyong (Melbourne, Australia) on Wednesday, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Sweden's Robin Soderling 7-6 (7-0), 6-1. Tsonga is returning to play subsequent to dealing with a wrist injury that caused him to withdraw from last week's Qatar ExxonMobil Open.


The players faced a very windy day, of his play Tsonga stated, "I feel good, better with my new racket. Today was difficult to play for me and Robin," he said.

"Even in these conditions we have to play and we have to win. I did it today so it's good for me."

Up next for Tsonga is 2009 U.S. Open champion, Juan Martin Del Potro.

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Top seed Gael Monfils has withdrawn from the Sydney International with a shoulder injury which also has the Frenchman in doubt for the Australian Open starting in Melbourne next Monday.

Monfils says his right serving shoulder is inflamed and requires several days' rest.

The world No.12 is hopeful of being fit for the opening grand slam of the year, but won't make a decision until later this week.

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“It’s good. It will be a good test for her, and for me,” Williams said.

Americans James Blake and Andy Roddick had their hopes of advancing to the doubles final at the Australian Open Series Brisbane International Tournament dashed as the duo fell to the French pair Jeremy Chardy and Marc Giquel 4-6, 6-3, [11/13].

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Venus Williams beat Zheng Jie 6-3 6-3 at the Hong Kong Classic exhibition event in her final match before the Australian Open starts on 18 January.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion powered to victory in 85 minutes and afterwards dismissed speculation she is considering retiring from the sport.

"I know I have so much more to give. As long as I keep playing well, I'll stay," said the world number six.

The 29-year-old will now head to Melbourne to complete her preparations.

Williams said she was happy with Friday's workout, which came the day after rain had prematurely ended her match against Caroline Wozniacki.

"The match was through in two sets but it took 85 minutes. She is an extremely tough competitor and does so many things well so it felt good to get the win," said the American.

And Williams, who has never won the Australian Open, is confident she will be ready to compete for the title in Melbourne.

"I know how to play tennis and I now just have to do it in Melbourne," she added.

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The Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek maintained his bid to defend his Brisbane International title by taking out Frenchman Gael Monfils in today's very lopsided 6-2, 6-1 semifinal defeat.

In a bit of Monfils support, his left shoulder remained very heavily taped for this semifinal. Subsequent to his defeat of American James Blake he stated that he was feeling some pain when he served and that he was concerned about the shoulder. The Frenchman's game was not top notch for this match.

Prior to this match Monfils held a 3-1 head to head record against the Stepanek.

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