The 2021 Australian Open is in full swing, and tennis fans around the world are eagerly watching their favorite players compete in the first Grand Slam of the year. On Saturday, January 2, tennis superstar Serena Williams secured her spot in the fourth round with a hard-fought victory over Anastasia Potapova of Russia. Williams, who is seeking her 24th Grand Slam title, had a shaky start to the tournament, struggling in her first-round match against Laura Siegemund.
However, she bounced back in the second round, dominating Serbian player Nina Stojanovic in straight sets. Against Potapova, Williams found herself in a more challenging match. Potapova, a rising talent on the WTA tour, put up a strong fight, but Williams ultimately prevailed 7-6, 6-2. “I knew going in it was going to be a battle,” Williams said in a National Post Today-match interview. “She’s such a great player, and she’s been playing so well. I’m just really happy to have gotten through that one.” Williams’ fourth-round opponent will be Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka, who is currently ranked seventh in the world.
Sabalenka is also a fierce competitor, known for her powerful serve and aggressive play style. Fans are eagerly anticipating the matchup between Williams and Sabalenka, which promises to be a high-intensity battle between two of the top players in women’s tennis. Williams will need to bring her best game if she hopes to defeat Sabalenka and advance to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, top-ranked Novak Djokovic continues to dominate.
The Serbian player is seeking his ninth Australian Open title and has looked almost unstoppable in his first three matches. In the third round, Djokovic faced off against American player Taylor Fritz, who put up a brave fight but ultimately fell to Djokovic in a grueling five-set match. Djokovic will now face Canadian player Milos Raonic in the fourth round, who is known for his powerful serve and aggressive play style. Other notable players who have advanced to the fourth round of the tournament include Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Simona Halep.
