Serena Williams reaches Dubai quarters
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-03 09:35

Australian Open champion Serena Williams overcame a rough first set and tricky wind Wednesday to beat Russia's Elena Bovina 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 and reach the Dubai Women's Open quarterfinals.

US Serena Williams exults after defeating Russia's Elena Bovina 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the last eight of the Dubai Open. [AFP]

Williams was making her first tour appearance since a stomach illness forced her to withdraw before the Paris Indoor quarterfinals last month.

"I don't know what I was doing there tonight," she said. "I think I was trying to kill myself out there. It was really windy and I hadn't played in the wind. All my shots were going out of here."

Top-ranked Lindsay Davenport had an easier time, defeating qualifier Jie Zheng of China 6-2, 7-5. Davenport will next meet Conchita Martinez, who ousted seventh-seeded Nathalie Dechy of France 6-1, 6-2.

French Open champ advanced Anastasia Myskina when Marion Bartoli of France quit while trailing 4-2 because of tendinitis in her left knee. Myskina faces eighth-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, who downed Li Na of China 6-3, 7-6 (8).

Williams, seeded second, next plays Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, who beat Elena Likhovtseva of Russia 7-5, 6-4. The other quarterfinal pits wild card Sania Mirza of India against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia-Montenegro — both won Tuesday.

Williams lost the opening five games and the first set, raising the prospect she would follow sister Venus out of the tournament. She then regrouped behind booming serves and strong groundstrokes to take the next two sets.

Williams has won both her matches against Hantuchova.

"It is a difficult court to play on," Hantuchova said. "Very fast and sometimes you feel you have no control over the ball."

Davenport won the last four games to eliminate Jie.

"I started well and finished well, but played some so-so games in the middle," said Davenport, who had a first-round bye.

Davenport has advanced to the final of her last two events — the Tokyo Indoors last month and the Australian Open in January.

Myskina reached her fourth consecutive Dubai quarterfinals in four appearances, but has yet to advance further.

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