A Preview of Day Five of the 2013 Australian Open
Maria Sharapova hasn’t lost a game yet through two rounds of action at the 2013 Australian Open, but that figures to change today as she finds herself with a very tough third round opponent in Venus Williams. Sharapova is the tournament’s second seed, and while Venus has slipped down the rankings due to injuries and a fatigue-inducing illness, a battle on Rod Laver Arena is expected today.
"Despite the fact that she might not be seeded high or didn’t play for a little bit, she’s still a very experienced player and a tremendous athlete," said Sharapova. "You certainly know what she’s capable of. But when you’re out on the court, you’re not thinking how many titles she’s won or how experienced she is."
While the Venus-Sharapova clash is expected to highlight the day on Rod Laver, the first women’s match on center court also brings much interest, as 17-year-old American Madison Keys looks for the upset against fifth-seed Angelique Kerber. Keys has been lauded by commentators for not only her game, but also her maturity beyond her age. She is also considered one of the best young players on tour by her fellow professionals.
Women’s number four Agnieszka Radwanska, who is unbeaten this year after winning the Auckland and Sydney tournaments, will seek to extend that streak to 12 matches when she takes on Great Britain’s Heather Watson at Hisense Arena. Radwanska beat Watson 6-0, 6-2 in the Wimbledon third round last year, but Watson has since improved her overall game.
On the men’s side, defending champion Novak Djokovic, who has not had to sweat much through two rounds, will be back on court taking on Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic for a place in the fourth round. Djokovic, who defeated Ryan Harrison in the second round, is 8-1 lifetime against Stepanek. Their last meeting ended in a four-set victory for Djokovic in the third round at Wimbledon last year.
