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Spaniard Upsets Venus

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The Associated Press

Published: January 23, 2009

MELBOURNE, Australia - Baffled by her lack of control and unable to assert herself, Venus Williams went tumbling out of the Australian Open.

She lost 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 Thursday in the second round to Carla Suarez Navarro, a 20-year-old Spaniard ranked No. 46 who made the most of a strong forehand in a go-for-broke game.

"She was super consistent and aggressive and just went for her shots," said Williams, the reigning Wimbledon champion who was seeded sixth in the year's first major. "I wasn't in control of the points.

"I definitely noticed that she kept getting the first shot. I was definitely playing defense. I'm definitely used to dictating the points. It was kind of a pattern that wasn't the best for me."
Suarez Navarro reached the French Open quarterfinals last year as a qualifier, beating 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo before losing to runner-up Jelena Jankovic.

She was out in the second round at Wimbledon, losing again to Jankovic, and the first round at the U.S. Open. She knew she'd have to come out swinging to advance further in her fourth major.

"You must be aggressive during all the match because, if not, she's going to take control of you," Suarez Navarro said through an interpreter. "In the first set, I never thought that I was going to lose."

Among the men, top-ranked Rafael Nadal ousted Roko Karanusic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, and No. 9 James Blake of Tampa won in straight sets for the second time, beating French qualifier Sebastien de Chaunac 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.

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