Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova stumble; leave women`s draw wide open

Zee Media Bureau/Manushree Chaumal

Melbourne: Women`s tennis has been unpredictable over last few years. This year at the first grand slam of the year, all eyes were on Serena Williams to clinch her 18th Major and etch her name in history equalling Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert`s record of 18 Majors. However, that was not meant to be. Seeded number one at the Australian Open, Serena`s was sent packing by 14th seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, former World No 1, in the fourth round of the tournament. The tennis world was just coming to terms with Serena`s ouster that another strong contender for the title Maria Sharapova was kicked off by Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round of the tournament. On the same day, another top seeded player, Jelena Jankovic was ousted by the eleventh seed Simona Halep, who will enter the top 8 in first time in her career. Earlier, the first casualty in the women`s draw was former Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova who was defeated by twenty-year old Thai Luksika Kumkhum, who could not catapult her win beyond second round. With Sarra Errani, former World No 1 Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber also out of the race, out of the top ten seeds only three remain - defending champion Victoria Azarenka, fourth seed Chinese Li Na and Polish fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Radwanska still awaits her fourth round match, while Azarenka and Li have already qualified for the quarter-finals. The new entrants in the women`s draw are Ana Ivanovic (14), Canadian Eugenie Bouchard (31), Italian Flavia Pennetta (28) and Romanian Simona Halep (11). The women`s draw now seems exciting. Who will clinch the title that the Serena speculation will now be quiet, that remains to be seen. Will we see a new champion from outside the top ten, or will the remaining three make it to the title? Unpredictable it is!