Australian Open Day 7 recap: Ivanovic, Pennetta score upsets to end Week 1
Ana Ivanovic improved to 1-4 against Serena Williams. (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, Australia -- While you were sleeping, here’s what you missed on Day 7 of the Australian Open.
What happened
Serena Williams loses to Ana Ivanovic: No. 14 Ivanovic broke open the women's bracket with her most comprehensive performance in years, beating Williams 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round. How improbable was this win? In their four previous matches, Ivanovic had not won more than four games in a set. And Ivanovic had gotten past the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament only once since winning the 2008 French Open. After the match, Williams' camp revealed that she had sustained a back injury between the second and third rounds and had contemplated withdrawing before her third-round match against Daniela Hantuchova. But injured or not, this was an incredible display from Ivanovic to outhit the five-time champion, who had won 25 consecutive matches.
Watch full highlights and read the reactions to Ivanovic's stunning win here.
Eugenie Bouchard makes her first Slam quarterfinal: Move over, Sloane Stephens, a new star is hot on your tail. Bouchard, 19, ended Australian wild card Casey Dellacqua's great run with a 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-0 victory. The Canadian has been improving at an alarming rate. A year ago, she lost in the qualifying tournament in Melbourne. Now, she's into the quarterfinals against Ivanovic, whom she defeated at Wimbledon last year.
Flavia Pennetta upsets Angelique Kerber: Forza Italia! Leave it to the 31-year-old Pennette to fly the flag after the top two Italians, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, lost early. Pennetta outlasted No. 9 Kerber 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 behind 43 winners. A year ago, Pennetta missed the Australian Open while still recovering from career-threatening wrist surgery. Now she's into her second straight Slam quarterfinal. She'll play No. 4 Li Na, who eased past Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-0.
No drama among the men: Easy does it for the top men. Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic barely broke a sweat in a 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 win over Fabio Fognini. No. 3 David Ferrer defeated Florian Mayer 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-2, 6-1. And No. 7 Tomas Berdych once again made Kevin Anderson his Slam pigeon, beating him 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 for his 10th consecutive victory over the South African.
Photo of the day
Another rough year for in Melbourne for Serena Williams, who tumbled out of the tournament with the aid of an injury for the third straight year. (Andrew Brownbill/AP)
Video of the day
Everything went right for Ivanovic, including this net-cord winner in the third set:
Ridiculous backhand winner of the day
The ageless Tommy Robredo strikes again (though he lost to Stanislas Wawrinka):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRj-8H-WH68
Incredible overhead shank of the day
Not one for the highlight reel, this:
Quote of the day
"I think all the struggles were just for moments like this. You work hard and you never know what's going to happen, you know. I just really enjoy competing. Like I said, I'm not afraid going deep against these top players. I feel ready, and I want to challenge everyone out there. I know there are going to be a lot of tough matches. It might not be quarterfinal; might be maybe second round, third round, but you always get tough matches. I'm ready for the battle, and hopefully I can show this game all the way."
-- Ana Ivanovic, reflecting on her prolonged slump since winning the 2008 French Open.
