Serena Williams maintained her dominant run at the Australian Open yesterday, but said there is still room for further improvement. The No 1 seed cruised past Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-3 and said: "I felt like I played okay. I still feel like I can do better. I think my forehand was solid today. I liked it today a lot." The 2008 champion plays Samantha Stosur in the fourth round tomorrow and the American added she would not be taking her Australian opponent lightly.
She said of the 13th seed: "I think she's playing great. She beat me the last time we played, so she has a lot of momentum. A ton of momentum. "She's on the up and up and is a nice girl. She has nothing to lose going into this match." A semi-final match-up with her sister Venus remains on track after the sixth seed proved too good for the Australian Casey Dellacqua, with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory. It was her third consecutive match against a left-handed opponent in the tournament, and she joked: "It was my third lefty in a row, which is a little unusual.
"You know, hopefully I'll be able to get back into the rhythm of playing right-handers." She meets the 17th seed Francesca Schiavone for a quarter-final place tomorrow after the Italian surprised 10th seed Agnieszka Radwanska with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph. Fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki, a US Open finalist in 2009, was also on impressive form as she cantered past the challenge of Shahar Peer with ease, triumphing 6-4, 6-0.
Next opponent for the Danish player is China's Na Li, who defeated 22nd seed Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in the only women's match yesterday to go to three sets. Seventh seed Victoria Azare-nka, from Belarus and Russian ninth seed Vera Zvonareva both won in straight sets and they will take each other on next for a place in the last eight. gcaygill@thenational.ae