Jankovic, Safina survive second round toughness; Zvonareva through with double bagel win

On Day 3 in Melbourne some seeds were tested, while other seeds esasily cruised through to the next round. Top seed Jelena Jankovic was one of the players that had to fight her way through.

Jankovic was challenged by Kirsten Flipkens, but eventually won in two tough sets, 64 75.

"I wasn't too happy with the way I played, and she also had nothing to lose," Jankovic said. "The main thing was to win. Competition in the early rounds gets you going, and now I know I'll have to clean up my game a little bit and go for my shots a little more. Also, I need to play with the same intensity from the first point to the last. For today I'm just happy to get through to the third round."

Compatriot No. 5 seed Ana Ivanovic had a much easier win, to Alberta Brianti, 63 62.

"I improved a lot since last match," said Ivanovic, who lost eight games in a somewhat scratchy first round win over Julia Goerges. "I was coming to the net more often - that's something I was very pleased about. But there are still some areas I have to work on. As you progress through the tournament you play tougher opponents, so automatically you raise your level. But it was much better today. Hopefully I can keep improving."

No. 3 seed Dinara Safina also had a tough match to play, against Ekaterina Makarova, but won in three sets, 67(3) 63 60.

"I had a slow start; I played poorly, just waiting for her mistakes," said Safina, who originally trailed 5-1 in the first set. "After I lost the first set, I really played my game. From 3-all in the second set I stepped in and won all the rest of the games. I feel I can still improve; even if I win my matches, I still feel there is so much more inside, so I have to let it go. I'm on the right track now."

No. 7 seed Vera Zvonareva had the easiest time on court, as she was victorious against Edina Gallovits, 60 60.

Anna Chakvetadze again continued her losing streak, as she fell to Jelena Dokic in three sets, 64 67(4) 63.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(1) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 64 75

(3) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 67(3) 63 60

(5) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. (Q) Alberta Brianti (ITA) 63 62

(7) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. Edina Gallovits (ROU) 60 60

(10) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. Sania Mirza (IND) 63 62

(11) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) 63 63

(15) Alizé Cornet (FRA) d. Andrea Petkovic (GER) 61 60

(16) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 75 62

(WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) d. (17) Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 64 67(4) 63

(19) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. Mathilde Johansson (FRA) 63 46 63

(25) Kaia Kanepi (EST) d. Patricia Mayr (AUT) 63 61

(26) Ai Sugiyama (JPN) d. Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 16 61 63

(29) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) d. Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro (FRA) 61 36 62

Sara Errani (ITA) d. Monica Niculescu (ROU) 62 63

Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) 61 36 97

Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) d. Karin Knapp (ITA) 64 61