Venus makes last eight

12 April 2012

Venus Williams progressed to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, overcoming an uncertain start to defeat qualifier Marta Domachowska 6-4 6-4 in Melbourne.

The American advanced despite being less than convincing in the early exchanges when her serve came under pressure from Domachowska.

Williams, who played with a heavily-strapped thigh, will take on Serbian Ana Ivanovic in the last eight.

Domachowska started well and managed to break her opponent's serve in the third game with a fine cross-court passing shot.

Williams broke back in the sixth game, only for Domachowska to reclaim her advantage. However, Williams hit back again before moving through the gears to take the first set.

Domachowska showed character to bounce back in second set after Williams had broken her serve, but the former world number one closed out the match with another break.

Fourth seed Ivanovic secured her place in the last eight with a 6-1 7-6 (7/2) victory against the unseeded Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark.

And there was an upset on the Margaret Court Arena where Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, seeded 29, accounted for the 14th seed Nadia Petrova in three sets.

Russian Petrova looked set for a comfortable victory when she coasted the first set 6-1, but Radwanska reeled off the next two sets 7-5 6-0.

Radwanska, who is competing in the tournament for only the second time, will play ninth seed Daniela Hantuchova in the quarter-finals after the Slovakian came back from a set down to beat Maria Kirilenko 1-6 6-4 6-4.

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