Venus wins debut match, along with Azarenka on Day 2 in Rome

On Day 2 of the Italy Open, Venus Williams' second round debut match was against Lucie Safarova, and the American took it to three sets and eventually won, while the champion of last week's tournament in Fes, Morocco fell to Anna Chakvetadze.

No. 4 seed Williams made a good start to her match against the Czech, but then lost the second set, and won the third set with ease, with the final score being 62 46 62.

No. 6 seed Victoria Azarenka didn't have to go through much in her second round match, as her opponent, qualifier Ayumi Morita, retired with a left thigh strain after the Belarussian won the first set 6-0.

Still wrapping up first round play, No. 9 seed Caroline Woznaicki was in good form, as she defeated Agnes Szavay 63 62.

Chakvetadze proved she was getting back into form, as she won her debut match to No. 15 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues, 62 63.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(4) Venus Williams (USA) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 62 46 62

(6) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (Q) Ayumi Morita (JPN) 60 ret. (left thigh strain)

Singles - First Round

(9) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Agnes Szavay (HUN) 63 62

(10) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 60 61

(12) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 67(2) 64 61

(13) Alizé Cornet (FRA) d. Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 63 75

(14) Zheng Jie (CHN) d. Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 61 76(4)

Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) d. (15) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 62 63

Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Sara Errani (ITA) 61 36 64

Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 60 67(8) 64

Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. (WC) Karin Knapp (ITA) 62 63

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d. (WC) Tathiana Garbin (ITA) 36 63 61

Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. (Q) Jill Craybas (USA) 16 63 62

Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (WC) Roberta Vinci (ITA) 63 76(4)

(Q) Aravane Rezai (FRA) d. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 63 63