Serena stunned by Makarova at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova etched her name into Australian Open folklore last night by stunning Serena Williams 6-2 6-3 in their fourth-round match   to end the American’s aura of invincibility at Melbourne Park.
Williams, who twisted an ankle in the lead-up to the tournament, was slowed by injury in the 82-minute match on Rod Laver Arena but refused to blame it for her sensational loss to the Russian world number 56.
“She played really well, she went for broke on a lot of shots,” Williams, a five-time Australian Open winner, told reporters.
“I made 37 errors and that pretty much told the story of the
match.
“It was definitely hard moving to that (left) side … I just did not serve well, it was just disastrous really.
“I never blame any injury I have because I feel like she played really well and deserved the win.”
The 13-times grand slam champion was a picture of torment throughout, serving up seven double-faults and routinely pushing her ground-strokes wide.
But Makarova, the lowest-ranked player to reach the last 16, served it up to the 13-times grand slam champion, absorbing her firepower and returning it with interest.
The 23-year-old fired sweetly struck winners on important points and showed nerves of steel as she closed out the match on her fourth match point when 12th seed Williams, serving to stay in the match, pushed a backhand wide.
“I don’t know what to say, it’s an amazing feeling,” Makarova said in a courtside interview after raising her arms in the air to raucous applause from the stands.
“I’m really happy that I finished in my way … It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Makarova’s win snapped a 17-match winning streak at
Melbourne Park for Williams, who won the 2009-10 titles but
missed last year’s tournament due to injury.
The American’s last defeat at the Australian Open was by
Jelena Jankovic, who beat her in the quarter-finals in 2008.