Tennis: Venus strikes back to move into quarters

Published on Monday 25 January 2010 08:47

VENUS WILLIAMS overcame a sluggish start against Italy's Francesca Schiavone to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open today.

The sixth seed had to recover from losing her first set at the tournament before winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and 54 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

The American is chasing her first-ever title at the Australian Open – the only major she has yet to win in a glittering career – and will now play China's Na Li after the 16th seed beat Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, the fourth seed, 6-4 6-3.

Laura Robson, meanwhile, lost just one game as she raced through her first-round match in the Junior Girls' competition.

Robson, who turned 16 last week, took just 36 minutes to defeat Australia's Belinda Woolcock 6-0, 6-1.

Robson will meet 11th seed Yalia Putintseva in the second round after the Rusian defeated Vivien Juhaszova 6-2, 6-3.

Last year, Robson reached the final of the tournament when she was beaten by Russia's Ksenia Pervak in straight sets.

In the boy's draw, Britain's Tom Allen took 11th seed Renzo Oliver to three sets before losing 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.