Russias Makarova savours win over Serena Williams
Date published :
23 Jan 2012 - 11:16:26
Ekaterina Makarova savoured an "amazing" win Monday after she stunned Serena Williams 6-2, 6-3 to extend her fairytale progress at the Australian Open, following a barren spell of several months.
The Russian world number 56, who had not won a main-draw match since last August before arriving in Melbourne, was expected to provide little more than an obstacle for the five-time champion.
But she instead the unheralded Makarova, 23, who had earlier upset seventh seed Vera Zvonareva, sent the American great packing for one of her worst defeats at a grand slam tournament.
Makarova broke five times as she outplayed a below-par Williams, who has not lost to such low-ranked opposition at a slam since Wimbledon 2005, when she lost to world number 85 Jill Craybas.
Makarova will play either fellow countrywoman Maria Sharapova or Germany's Sabine Lisicki in the last eight, but said she wasn't thinking too far ahead.
"I will watch the game tonight," she said. "I played a couple times against Sharapova and a long time ago against Lisicki. They are great players.
"(But) I don't want to think about the next match. I just want to enjoy this moment."
The Russian is now into her first grand slam singles quarter-final, which would have seemed an unthinkable prospect when she lost in the first round at six straight tournaments in the final months of last year.
This season, Makarova came through qualifying at the Sydney International, but then lost in the first round to China's Li Na. But she has now beaten Tamarine Tanasugarn, Kaia Kanepi, Zvonareva and Williams in Melbourne.
"I didn't play that good the second half of the year. In the end of the year, I lost six tournaments first round," she said. "That was last year. This is the new year, new feeling, new game. It's different.
"I had a good holiday, didn't think about tennis. And then I had a good preparation, practised so hard with my coach and my physical coach so I think that the results show that I worked hard."
Almost from the first point of Monday's match it became obvious that Williams, who injured an ankle this month in Brisbane, was not her usual self as mistakes came thick and fast from her racquet, 37 in all.
The 30-year-old's movement was also poor and she often didn't attempt to chase wide balls. In contrast Makarova was pursuing everything and waiting for the almost inevitable mistakes.
"I'm surprised because she's a great player and it's really tough to play against her, but I don't know I just feel so good and so focused," she said. "So I played my game and that's it. I won against Serena. That's amazing."
Makarova won the opener in 31 minutes, but Williams seemed to get things back on track with an early break in the second -- only to surrender it the next game.
Makarova held serve to level the set at 2-2, then broke again as a frustrated Williams dished up a series of double-faults.
The Russian confidently moved to a 5-3 lead, before attacking Williams' serve and breaking for a remarkable victory.
Makarova reached a career-high ranking of 29 last June but the string of poor results saw her drop out of the top 50.
