Venus Williams produced a gutsy performance to save a match point in beating Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 7-5 3-6 7-6(3) in two hours and 54 minutes. The match finished close to 1.30am local time in Doha and considering the conditions, it was a pretty good match. There was a minor altercation at the net after BZS was angered by a couple of late challenges by Venus towards the end of the third set. BZS didn’t say anything at the net, but did unleash one hell of a stare. Venus asked her “was that look for something?” to which Barbora just said “well done”. Venus responded with “oh good”…
I think Barbora’s gripes should have been aimed at the umpire and not Venus, but given the pair had fought for nearly three hours and the match finished so late/early, you can understand why she was a little pissed. However, I did notice that after the challenge, she started moving around and squeaking her shoes while Venus was preparing to serve, which was a little unnecessary. Barbora is a great character to have on tour and I for one, am delighted that her tennis has now become very relevant on tour. I also enjoyed the exchange with her coach on an earlier changeover.
Barbora to coach: “I need you to push me”
Coach to Barbora: “If I push you, you become crazy”
It was a shame this moment overshadowed what had been a well fought match. Venus goes through to play Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarter-finals. The world number eight had a very routine win over Flavia Pennetta, 6-1 6-1 in just 49 minutes. In fact, the Doha centre court did not get their moneys worth during the first three matches with this quick one and two retirements. In the Aga-Venus head-to-head, Venus won their last match at the Australian Open at the start of the year, 6-3 2-6 6-1, to snap a run of three straight losses. However, i’d take Aga for this match based on the circumstances. The courts are slow and it will be harder for Venus to hit through Aga. Furthermore, I think the match against BZS will have taken something out of Venus, even with a day off.
Prediction: Radwanska d. V.Williams in 2 sets (1 tight, 1 easy)
Moo's Tennis Blog 
Barboba isn’t on Venus level to have that much attitude .
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Venus can be Aga in straight sets. Nothing in Aga’s game can threaten Venus , but Vee can’t over hit the ball.
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Venus looks very tired after BZS match. I think Aga will take this one in 2 sets. In addition, I can tell that Aga hits her ground strokes a little bit harder than before. I am not sure if they add some weights to her racquet head.
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If Aga plays like she did in her first match life will be difficult for Venus. 12 winners to 3 errors in the first set alone for Aga.
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Hey James, this is Venus Williams we’re talking about, not Flavia Pennetta? What-U-talkin-bout-Willis? Venus is going to beat Radranska in route to win her 8th-slam this 2015. Just you watch and see cause surely you won’t predict it.
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Radwanska played her routine game. She was behind in the first set and slightly irritated, Venus played well and won the first set. Venus’s game collapsed in the second set and Radwanska won it. It is important to note that in the last two games of the second set Venus was beginning to get her rhythm back and was hitting the ball more consistently, she lost the second set but she had her rhythm back for the third set and she won it without being really scared. Radwanska needs a coach who can work on her mental part, getting tetchy and irritable is not going to get her anywhere near a grand slam.
Also I would like to see a match where Radwanska wins after losing the first set, havent seen her do that in a long time. But she desperately needs a coach to work on her mental part. She also has trouble closing out sets – she is always nervous while serving out a set or a match.
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Thanks for the analysis. I was following on live scores and it seemed like Aga had chances at the start of the third set. It seemed very similar to their match in Melbourne although there was a bit more of a fightback from Aga at the end… or Venus getting tight!
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