Serena through after Azarenka retires

Published: 6:00PM Monday January 26, 2009 Source: Reuters

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

• 
  Serena Williams

• Related

  • Australian Open day eight results
  • Tiny Spaniard reaches Aust Open quarters

American Serena Williams was gifted a place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday when Victoria Azarenka was forced to retire, appearing to be physically exhausted and distressed in the heat.

Azarenka, from Belarus, was leading 6-3 2-4 but threw in the towel after struggling to keep her balance or even her hold her racket.

She broke down in tears and needed assistance from her trainers to get off the centre court.

Williams, a three-time winner of the Australian Open, will play Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals after her fourth-round opponent Zheng Jie retired with a wrist injury.

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• more...
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

Tennis News

• French Open 'very special' for top three
• Erakovic defeated as Roland Garros looms
• Nadal beats Djokovic to regain Rome title
• Sharapova claims Rome title after final delay
• Djokovic-Nadal final postponed
• Djokovic, Nadal set up Rome showdown
• Djokovic, Nadal move closer to showdown

Most Popular

1. Reds survive last gasp penalty
2. Highlanders pip encouraging Blues watch
3. Maldonado crashes in final Monaco practice
4. Hurricanes slay Rebels in record win watch
5. As it happened: Blues v Highlanders watch

rssLatest News

• 23:57 Reds survive last gasp penalty
• 23:55 Dragons sneak home against Eels
• 22:47 Maldonado crashes in final Monaco practice
• 22:37 Rain and wind to lash parts of South Island watch
• 21:35 Highlanders pip encouraging Blues watch