Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Top seed Azarenka loses only three games in opening match, advances on Day 2 in Marbella

Seeking her first clay court title on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Victoria Azarenka made a strong first impression on Tuesday, winning her Andalucía Tennis Experience opener in straight sets

Azarenka, the No.1 seed, went back and forth a little with Yvonne Meusburger early on in the match. Serving at 4-3 she faced a break point that could have seen Meusburger, a lucky loser, get back on serve; but the Belarusian hung on to win the game. It was the first of eight straight games - she won, 63 60.

"The score was easy but the match was not that easy," Azarenka said of the one-hour, 28-minute contest. "Yvonne had a few matches here and was playing well, but I was happy the way I played. My goal for the clay court season is to get my rhythm and get ready for the French Open as much as possible."

Spanish seeds María José Martínez Sánchez, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Carla Suárez Navarro all moved through in straight sets, but the only other seed in action wasn't so lucky: No.6 seed Maria Kirilenko was two points away from victory at 64 65 but lost to Sorana Cirstea, 46 76(2) 64.

Sara Errani, Alberta Brianti and qualifier Simona Halep also moved on.

Flavia Pennetta and Kim Clijsters, the No.2 and No.3 seeds, play their first rounds Wednesday. Read what Clijsters said to the press in Marbella.


Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Singles - First Round
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (LL) Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) 63 60
(5) María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) d. Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 64 63
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. (6) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 46 76(2) 64
(7) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) d. Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) 61 64
(8) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. Roberta Vinci (ITA) 64 60
Sara Errani (ITA) d. (Q) Arantxa Rus (NED) 61 62
Alberta Brianti (ITA) d. Julie Coin (FRA) 62 60
(Q) Simona Halep (ROU) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 64 61

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