DUBAI // The run is over. Venus Williams, undefeated in 16 consecutive matches at the Aviation Club, was sent crashing out of the Dubai Tennis Championships in straight sets on a day when scorching afternoon temperatures left five of the top eight seeds leaving early and gasping for breath.
Even for a city renowned for its warm climate, the weather proved suffocating and energy-sapping yesterday as Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic, Angelique Kerber and No 2 seed Petra Kvitova were all eliminated from the annual $2 million tournament by lower-ranked opposition.
RELATED
– Kvitova and Halep treat Dubai crowd to contrasting displays in second-round match
– Tomas Berdych: Czech tennis star hoping to take final step at Dubai Championships
During the midday match between Radwanska and Garbine Muguruza, the mercury reached in excess of 40 degrees Celsius prompting the players to wrap ice towels around their necks between games.
By the time Williams walked on to the court to face Lucie Safarova at 1.50pm, spectators and volunteers had huddled in shaded areas around the Aviation Club.
Williams, who was in 2011 diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease that often leaves her fatigued, last tasted defeat in Dubai a decade ago when she lost a second-set tiebreaker to Italian Silvia Farina Elia. Since then, she had lifted the trophy in each of her past three visits – in 2009, 2010 and 2014 – and won an incredible 25 consecutive sets.
The last person to take a set off the seven-time grand slam title winner in Dubai was sister Serena in 2009, but Safarova showed little intimidation even after her opponent opened the first game with an ace.
The Czech, ranked 15th in the world, took the next four successive points to break the 34-year-old Williams and held her own serve three times for a 4-3 lead.
When Williams broke back, regular service appeared to have resumed, but Safarova had other plans, shocking those brave enough to sit in the unshaded bleachers by breaking again for a 5-4 lead. After initially slipping to 0-40, she fought back to close out the set.
“She played awesome,” Williams said. “There were a couple of games there that I didn’t even get my racquet on the ball. What can I say to that?”
Williams demise worsened as she failed to hold in two of her four service games. Safarova, in contrast, looked sprightly, confident and ready to attack at every opportunity, despite having played for three hours the previous afternoon in her second-round match.
“I had a good treatment session in the evening and it can happen like that sometimes,” Safarova said. “That’s what you are trained for: to last more days and play such long performances. I actually didn’t feel that bad; in fact, I obviously felt pretty good. I was firing the ball and serving really well. I’m happy.”
Williams, who would have returned to the top 10 if she had defended her title, dismissed the suggestion the hot temperatures had played their part in her demise. “The heat has never bothered me,” she said.
Ivanovic, who was later beaten by 22-year-old Czech Karolina Pliskova, was equally as gracious, but conceded that “honestly it’s a little bit harder”.
“You struggle a little bit more with the breathing,” said Ivanovic, who lost 2-6, 6-4, 4-6. “Also from that one side I felt like lots of players were struggling with their serve with the sun a little bit, but it’s the same for both players. You really have to try and find your own way to stay cool in a match.”
Kerber and Kvitova both played their third-round matches on the more airy Court One, yet still failed to progress. Italian Flavia Pennetta, seeded 10th, beat Kerber 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 while Carla Suarez-Navarro dispatched Kvitova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Kvitova, who played down the effect of the high temperatures, had another explanation for why so many of the top seeds fell.
“I don’t know if it’s a surprise – it happens,” Kvitova said. “It’s not the first time and won’t be the last time. The top 50 is pretty much the same level. Only in the small, important key points it’s different, so everybody can beat everyone else. Maybe it’s nice for the fans that they see some surprises, but it’s not every time nice for us.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
