Australian Open: Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams advance to the next stage
Friday 23 January 2015 14:10, UK
Fourth seed Petra Kvitova sent out a warning with a ruthless second-round win over Mona Barthel at the Australian Open.
The reigning Wimbledon champion made short work of the world No 43, completing a 6-2 6-4 win to reach the third round for the first time since 2012.
On that occasion, Kvitova advanced to the semi-finals and she showed glimpses of her best form while racing through the opening set.
Barthel displayed more fight in the second, stretching one game to almost 16 minutes as she searched in vain for a break, but the Czech broke her resistance to secure victory.
Kvitova, who suffered a first-round exit last year, will next meet Madison Keys, an opponent she defeated in straight sets in their only previous meeting.
"It's my best (performance) in the past three years, so I have to be happy with that and I'm looking forward to the next match," said Kvitova.
Reflecting on the lengthy service game, she said: "I was losing 40-15 (but) I knew I have a good serve and could help myself.
"But 16 minutes, it's almost a record for me. In the end I did it, but Mona played very well in the second set.”
Venus Williams joined her sister Serena in the third round following a 6-2 6-3 win over fellow American Lauren Davis.
The 34-year-old will face Italy's Camila Giorgi, but has not progressed past the third round of any slam since Wimbledon in 2011.
"I'm just doing the best I can," said Williams. "I always was, even when it wasn't what I wanted. So whatever that is, I'm doing absolutely the best I can. I think as long as I'm doing my best, something good will come out of it.”
