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Williams Sisters disappoint but ASB Open thrills

Apurv Shukla – 

American Lauren Davis won the women’s ASB Classic in Auckland.

The World No 61 defeated Croatian Ana Konjuh in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 in the finals.

The diminutive 23-year-old beat four-seeded players on her way to her maiden crown at the Stanley Street Tennis Centre.

Daughter of a medical professional couple, Davis has one of the better backhands in the game, and Auckland was the Seventh Singles title on the women’s circuit for her.

One of the world’s best tennis players, Serena Williams made her maiden appearance at the ASB Classic. The winner of 22 Grand Slams lost in the second round to countrywoman Madison Brengle.

Post-Match Comments

In a match where Williams clearly looked scratchy and in discomfort, she hit 88 unforced errors in a three-set loss. Her post-match comments were critical of the windy conditions at Stanley Street and she expressed her desire to get away from Auckland at the earliest to a warmer climate in Australia.

Plans are afoot to put a roof over the tennis centre and upgrade the seating capacity and public amenities.

Serena’s older sister Venus playing her third event in Auckland but pulled out in the second round, citing an injury.

Getting both Williams sisters were the biggest signings in the event’s history – there performance though a disappointment.

Other Upsets

The third seed at the event and former world number 1 Caroline Wozniacki lost in the quarter finals to German Julia Goerges. The tournament had received a setback when former World No 1 Anna Ivanovic retired from the game just before the event started.

Kiwi tennis players were a mixed bag at the event.

Wild Card Jade Lewis showed glimpses of her potential before going down 7-5, 6-2 to Venus Williams in a first round match.

Lewis comes from an illustrious Tennis family with her father and uncles all representing New Zealand on the international stage- high hopes for the future rest with her.

Former World No 39, Marina Erakovic lost in the first round of singles, though she made it to the quarterfinals of the doubles event.

World’s Best

ASB Open is the feather in the cap for New Zealand Tennis.

The $ 250,000 event is consistently rated the best in the world in its category, and continues to draw big names to our shores.

Attention of tennis fans will now shift across the Tasman for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open that will be held from January 16 to 29, 2017.

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