Williams sisters both advance on Day 5 in Paris

Venus Williams lost the first set in her match in a tiebreak, she regained her strength to win the next two sets, advancing to the third round of the second Grand Slam of the year along with her sister Serena, who easily won her match in straight sets.

Venus took on Lucie Safarova on Day 5 in Paris, losing the first set with a close score in the tiebreak, then winning the next two with a fight. The final score was 67(5) 62 75.

"Yesterday I think I did too many things wrong. She was just firing for every shot and making them," Williams said. "There was a lot to think about during the delay, and when I came back I just tried to be as aggressive as I could. The last two sets were really close and she was playing well. But these kinds of matches are really rewarding, and I felt like I deserved the win today."

Serena easily demolished Virginia Ruano Pascual, 62 60.

"Everything clicked for me today, finally. I'm not nearly as upset as I was the other day," said Williams, who needed nine match points to finish off her first round opponent, Klara Zakopalova, on Tuesday. "I was really upset yesterday and other than coming here to practice I stayed home all day. Today I came out feeling like I had no pressure on me and I just did the best I could."

No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva was lucky to advance, after her opponent, Jelena Dokic, was leading a set and 3-4 and then retired due to a low back injury. The final score was 26 43.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) 62 60

(3) Venus Williams (USA) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 67(5) 62 75

(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Jelena Dokic (AUS) 26 43 ret. (low back injury)

(5) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 61 62

(7) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 60 62

(10) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Jill Craybas (USA) 61 64

(12) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) 61 64

Tathiana Garbin (ITA) d. (13) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 63 75

Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. (18) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 62 62

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. (21) Alizé Cornet (FRA) 63 62

(24) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. (Q) Petra Martic (CRO) 63 63

Melinda Czink (HUN) d. (28) Sybille Bammer (AUT) 46 63 108

(30) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 63 46 64

María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) d. Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) 36 63 63

Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (WC) Olivia Rogowska (AUS) 46 75 75

Jarmila Groth (AUS) d. (LL) Mariana Duque Marino (COL) 62 76(9)

Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) d. Alexa Glatch (USA) 76(0) 75