Serena gives Sprem no chance to survive

PARIS – Top-ranked Serena Williams showed no sign of the illness which kept her bedridden last week as she brushed aside Karolina Sprem, 6-1, 6-2, to reach the Open GDF Suez quarterfinals on Thursday.

Williams, after winning the Australian Open, didn’t practice until Monday, and was relieved to get through the first round of the indoor tournament she’s won twice. Her second-round match was easier, as Williams took less than an hour to beat the Croatian qualifier, converting her first match point with a forehand return winner down the line.

Next up will be French qualifier Emilie Loit, whom Williams hasn’t met in six years.

“She’s a lefty, she uses a lot of spins and slices,” Williams said about Loit. “She’s a very experienced player and tricky.”

Also joining Williams in the last eight were second-seeded Jelena Jankovic, third-seeded Elena Dementieva, fifth-seeded Alize Cornet, and Amelie Mauresmo, who has the most wins in the tournament’s history.

Jankovic, who lost her No. 1 ranking when she lost in the Australian Open fourth round, overcame Li Na of China, 6-0, 3-6, 6-2,, for the first time in five hard-court matches.

“There are certain players who give you a hard time no matter what their ranking is,” Jankovic said of 28th-ranked Li. “It’s just their game and their style of play that doesn’t kind of suit mine. But today I came out with a good tactic.

“I kept hitting the ball very deep and very hard and I took the initiative.” (AP)