Rome Tennis 2012 Match Highlights: Venus vs Sharapova, Serena vs Pennetta

The amazing Williams sisters headline the more interesting women's singles quarterfinal matches at the premier-level Rome tennis tournament. Younger sister Serena will face a local favorite and the boisterous hometown crowd when goes up against Italian Flavia Pennetta to start the day at CENTRALE court. Meanwhile, it will be a cat-fight when older sister Venus takes on world no. 2 and defending champion Maria Sharapova on the second women's quarterfinal match at the SUPERTENNIS ARENA at the Foro Italico in Rome. Watch the 2012 Internazionali BNL d'Italia women's quarterfinals match highlights here featuring Venus vs Sharapova and Serena vs Pennetta.

Venus advanced to the quarterfinals by scoring her second top-five victory since her return to tennis last March. The American had a comfortable 64 63 over world no. 5 Samantha Stosur, to avenge her quarterfinal loss to the Australian at the Charleston tennis tournament last April. Venus also downed world no. 5 Petra Kvitova in Miami. She has now beaten Stosur four times in five matches. Venus' next opponent is Sharapova in a battle of former no. 1 players and former Rome titlists. The two have played each other six times, and their record remains tied at three wins apiece. Venus has the momentum having won their last two matches but they haven't played each other since 2009. This will be their first meeting on clay.

Venus vs Sharapova: Career Head to Head

RANK (SEED)YEAREVENTSURFACEROUNDWINNERSCORERANK (SEED)
2004 ZURICH HARD Q M. Sharapova 6-3 6-4
2005 MIAMI HARD S M. Sharapova 6-4 6-3
2005 WIMBLEDON GRASS S V.Williams 7-6(2) 6-1
2005 MIAMI HARD R32 M. Sharapova 2-6 6-2 7-5
2007 WIMBLEDON GRASS R16 V.Williams 6-1 6-3
2009 STANFORD HARD Q V.Williams 6-2 6-2

The other interesting quarterfinal match will be between Serena and Pennetta. The Italian gave the local crowd something to cheer about with an impressive 60 61 win over Czech Petra Cetkovska. The Czech eliminated world no. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska in the previous round and had been impressive last week as well defeating both world no. 4 Petra Kvitova and Stosur in back to back matches. Is Serena, Pennetta will be facing a player she hasn't beaten in two matches before, and who is holding a 16-match win streak on clay this season. Expect the crowd to come out boisterously for Pennetta but Serena will have enough firepower to eliminate the last Italian in the draw.

The other quarterfinal matches feature two Grand Slam champions. World no. 8 and defending French Open champ Li Na will attempt to advance against Dominika Cibulkova. Cibulkova reached the quarterfinals after world no. 1 Azarenka withdrew with an injury before their third round match. Wimbledon champion Kvitova will face promising German Angelique Kerber. Kerber is having her best season this year winning two titles in Paris and Copenhagen and winning five of her last nine matches against players in the top 10.

Watch Rome 2012 tennis live online featuring Venus vs Sharapova and Serena vs Pennetta through TennisTv.com.