Williams downs Dellacqua

Venus Williams made it a hat-trick of wins against left-handers as she overcame the plucky challenge of Australia’s Casey Dellacqua on Rod Laver Arena today.

Williams won the match in straight sets 6-1 7-6 (7/3), but was pushed until the end in a contest which lasted one hour and 47 minutes.

It was the sixth seed’s third win against left-handed opposition, after beating Lucie Safarova and Sybille Bammer in the earlier rounds, and the American is still to drop a set.

After a routine first-set win, Williams, who is chasing her first title at Melbourne Park, found the going more difficult in a second set that lasted over an hour.

The 29-year-old broke the Dellacqua serve in the fifth game and at that stage looked ready for an early finish.

But it was not to be as the Australian rallied and roared on by a partisan home crowd broke back to level the set at 4-4.

Dellacqua reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park two years ago, but had needed a wildcard entry into the draw this year after a shoulder injury kept her out for most of 2009.

The 24-year-old looked determined to make the most of her opportunity as she pressed for another break before the set went to a tie-break.

Williams’ class stood out in the decider as she forged 6-1 ahead, and while Dellacqua again rallied to save three match points, the American finally wrapped up the match with an ace.