Serena does Peer review

Part of her competitive skills depend on how well she deals with adversity, and there was plenty against Peer, who was only able to convert three of 13 breakpoint opportunities. Williams also was able to shrug off letting a 4-1 lead slip in the deciding set and then have to break Peer to stay in the match.

Williams next faces 17-year-old Nicole Vaidisova, who beat fellow Czech Lucie Safarova 6-1, 6-4.

On the men8217;s side, sixth-seeded Andy Roddick was nearly perfect in beating longtime friend and former housemate Mardy Fish 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, making only four unforced errors. He will meet top-ranked Roger Federer, who downed No. 7 Tommy Robredo 6-3, 7-6 2, 7-5.

Federer, who lost to Roddick in the finals of an exhibition tournament 10 days ago, struggled at times, losing his serve four times. He was shaking his head after shanking several volleys and mis-hitting other balls, one which went into the stands on the fly. But he came up with his best when he needed it, taking the last five points of the tiebreaker, then breaking Robredo as he served at 5-6 in the third.

With his strong defensive skills, Robredo often made Federer hit more than one good shot to take a point, but had only 17 winners to 28 unforced errors.

What the Williams-Peer match lacked in skill 8212; they combined for 83 unforced errors to 50 winners 8212; it made up for in drama. Williams was moving like every point was a chore. She shrieked after errors as Peer jumped ahead 3-0 and watched in disbelief as the Israeli finished off the first set. Peer had her chances to put the match away but abruptly lost her focus in the second set. Serving at 2-2, 15-30, she double-faulted, then committed six consecutive unforced errors.

But the problems continued for Serena. She faced break points in five of her seven service games in the deciding set. She broke Peer to jump ahead 3-1, only to see the Israeli tie it up at 4-4. Williams fended off five break points in her next two service games. Serving at 6-7, Peer sent a backhand volley long to set up match point, then a backhand wide.

Roddick, at the top of his game, showed his old buddy no mercy, slamming aces and clean volleys while whipping wicked winners.

Fish said he thought it was the best Roddick had ever played against him 8212; a pretty big compliment from someone who practised almost every with Roddick for about two years.

Roddick had three of his 10 aces in the last game, getting his fastest of the match 8212; 228 kph 8212; to set up match point.

When Fish couldn8217;t get the next serve back, there was no jubilation by Roddick. Both players, their heads down, trudged to the net where they shook hands and chatted briefly, each with an arm over the other8217;s shoulders.

8220;Being that we8217;re close, I think it takes away maybe a little bit of the elation 8217;cause you8217;re not really solely focussed on your side of the court,8221; Roddick said. 8220;I tried my best to put our friendship to the back of my head. It8217;s a weird, weird situation.8221;

8211;Paul Alexander

Roy, Donald enter quarter finals

Melbourne: India8217;s Rupesh Roy and his Australian partner Stephen Donald defeated the Aussie duo of Jared Easton and Bernard Tomic to advance to the boys8217; doubles quarter finals of the Australian Open here today.

After conceding the first set, sixth seeds Roy and Donald fought back to win the second round match 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. In the quarter finals, the Indo-Aussie pair will meet top seeds Roman Jebavy of Czech Republic and Martin Klizan of Slovakia.

Jebavy and Klizan beat Danila Arsenov and Vladimir Zinyakov of Russia 7-66, 6-4 to reach the last-eight stage.

8211; PTI