Li makes it to second round in Madrid

World number two evades last year’s slip-up in same event.

MADRID: Australian Open champion Li Na avoided a repeat of her shock first round exit at the Madrid Open last year with a 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) win over Belgian Kirsten Flipkens on Monday.

The world number two raced through the opening set, but was forced to save two set points in the second before closing out the match in a tie-break.

"I knew it would never be an easy match and even when I won the first set, she was really fighting a lot in the second," said the Chinese star.

"We are from the same country; we know each other well so I'm sure it will be tough.”

Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska also sealed her place in the last-32 with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win over Australian Open semi-finalist Eugenie Bouchard.

The Canadian put up a strong fight in a tightly contested opening set, but Radwanska's variety of shot-making allowed her to comfortably take the tie-break.

"Of course I think the tiebreak was the biggest key in that match," admitted Radwanska.

"I made a couple good shots in the tiebreak and managed to win that. I think that gave me more confidence in the second set and it was a little bit easier."

The Pole took complete control in the second with an early double break and served the match out to set up a second round clash with Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia became the first seed to fall on Monday, as she was comprehensively beaten 6-3, 6-0 by 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur of Australia.

Nishikori, Isner, Tsonga advance

It was smooth sailing for the seeds on the men's side as Kei Nishikori, John Isner and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga all secured their passage into round two.

Japan's Nishikori kept his recent fine form going after winning the Barcelona Open last week with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Croatian Ivan Dodig to set up a meeting with Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round.

Ninth seed Isner was characteristically solid on serve as the American wasn't broken in his 7-6, (10/8), 6-4 win over Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili.

Tsonga faced a stiffer test against fellow Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin, but also came through in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Nadal named adopted son of Madrid

The city of Madrid declared world number one Rafael Nadal as its adopted son on Monday in honour of his trophy-laden tennis career.

"Today is a very special day for me" said Nadal at a ceremony at Madrid city hall which voted unanimously to give him the honour last year.

"I believe in respect for my opponents, humility, discipline, hard work and enthusiasm. That is how I understand not only sports but life as well.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.