Samantha Stosur Out but Yanina Wickmayer Still in

(January 4, 2011) Former top-ranked player Dinara Safina has now been ousted from the Brisbane International by defending champion Yanina Wickmayer.

    The two were involved in a heated match today where the Belgian born Wickmayer overcame the Russian 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-1. After the match, Wickmayer admitted to being a bit upset over the victory during this time that Safina is trying to reclaim her ranking, which is now set at No.63 due to a back injury suffered throughout the 2010 season.


    “Sad feelings” aside Wickmayer was able to dominate from the first set, dropping serve only once in the fifth. During this two-hour competition, it seemed as if the No.23 ranked player had the match all wrapped up until Safina fought back and took the second set to a tiebreaker. Seeing that she could be beaten, the Belgian brought her A-game back onto the court and won the final set in 33 minutes.

Her next opponent, who she will play on Wednesday, is German qualifier Sabine Lisicki.

    Meanwhile, in other matches played at Brisbane, the Aussie battle was on as top-seeded Samantha Stosur faced against fellow countrywoman Jarmila Groth. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old player who so easily disassembled Czech player Lucie Hradecka yesterday fell short today against Groth losing 2-6, 4-6.


    In show of strength, Groth was able to break Stosur’s powerful serve four times and save three of the four break points she faced. She was also able to serve up seven aces in the second set and finished overall with nine now placing her in the quarterfinals.
    
    Also falling short today was second-seeded Shahar Peer. Though the Israeli player battled it out with Lucie Safarova, she was eventually overcome 6-3, 1-6, 5-7. After the match, Safarova only had kind words to say about Peer’s performance.
"Shahar is a fighter and the match was very long. In the end, it could've gone either way," Safarova said to the WTA. "I'm very happy to win this match. It's nice to perform so well right before the Australian Open. I worked very hard in the off-season and I'm happy to play these kinds of matches right now."

    With third-seed Nadia Petrova losing to Petra Kvitova on Monday, 7-6 (7-3) 6-3, the womens draw is left in the hands of Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, the highest ranked player left.

Finishing out the matches were sixth-seed Russian player Elena Vesnina who beat New Zealand wild card Marina Erakovich 6-2, 6-2. Eighth-seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain defeated Romina Oprandi of Italy 6-3, 7-6 (7). While Heather Watson of Britain beat Noppawan Lertchewakarn of Thailand, 6-1, 6-1.

One of the few remaining top seeds, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, No.5 seed, survived her match with Bojana Jovanovski. Firing 10 aces and no double faults, she beat the Serbian player 6-2, 7-5.

On the men's side of the draw, today served up quite the shock with third-seed Fernando Verdasco losing 6-1, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 to Benjamin Becker. The German came out the gate set on victory, ending the first set in 30 minutes. Despite showing signs of weakness early, failing to hold serve until the sixth game, the former runner up claimed a tie-break in the second set. Only to drop his opening service game in the final set.

Also ousted from the tournament was veteran Arnaud Clement, who lost in straight sets to Richard Berankis of Lithuania, 6-4, 6-3.

Top seed Robin Soderling moved on to the quarterfinals today with a 6-2, 6-4 win over American qualifier Ryan Harrison with a single ace. While former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis rallied against Frenchman Florent Serra 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. 2009 champion Radek Stepanek beat Germany's Tobias Kamke 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.