Ekaterina Makarova

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, ranked third in the world, has qualified for the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, on Sunday, in Melbourne, after defeating by 6-4, 6-2 Belgian player Yanina Wickmayer.

Photo: (c) Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS

ROME - Serbia's Jelena Jankovic and Russia's Alisa Kleybanova failed to qualify for the qurterfinals in the WTA doubles event in Rome after losing to the Russian pair Ekaterina Makarova / Elena Vesnina in straight sets 7-5, 6-4 late on Thursday.

ROME - Serbia's Jelena Jankovic and Russia's Alisa Kleybanova are off to a successful start in the doubles competition of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, defeating on Tuesday the Russian-Australian pairing of Svetlana Kuznetsova/Samantha Stosur in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.