US Open: Azarenka cruises into third round
Djokovic sets up second-round tie against Rogerio Dutra Silva.
NEW YORK:
World number one Victoria Azarenka put in a sublime performance as she breezed past Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round of the US Open.
Reigning Australian Open champion Azarenka, who has reached the last-eight in every Grand Slam event except the US Open, will next face Chinese 28th-seed Zheng Jie, who beat Slovakian qualifier Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-1.
The 23-year-old is looking for her 13th career title and fifth trophy of the year at Flushing Meadows.
“I would love to play for the title,” said Azarenka. “It’s a long way. I’m proud of everything I have achieved this season. It has been a great year.”
Djokovic pleased with show
Meanwhile, defending champion Novak Djokovic was pleased with his performance as he stormed into the second round defeating Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-1, 6-0, 6-1. “My game was great from start to finish,” said Djokovic. “It was important to be economical with my time on court. I tried to get to the net and stay focused.”
World number two Djokovic needed just 73 minutes to finish off an embarrassingly one-sided tie.
I feel great: Serena
Meanwhile, Serena Williams, the champion in 1999, 2002 and 2008, and twice a runner-up, was just as ruthless in the concluding match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, sweeping past US compatriot Coco Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-1.
“The conditions were really crazy, but it’s the US Open so you have to be ready for the worst conditions,” said Serena, who has won 37 of her last 39 matches on tour.
Serena next tackles Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
Wozniacki suffers shock exit
While Djokovic and Serena were enjoying evening strolls, next door on Louis Armstrong court, former world number one and 2009 runner-up Caroline Wozniacki, without a title this year, was crashing to a painful first-round loss.
The Danish eighth seed was beaten by world number 96 Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2, 6-2. Wozniacki came into the match with her knee heavily strapped, having picked up an injury at New Haven last week, and she needed more treatment before slipping to defeat.
“I tried and didn’t succeed in playing well,” said Wozniacki. “There were too many errors. It’s frustrating but I will have to move on.”
In other women’s singles matches, Venus Williams beat wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3, 6-1. Polish second-seed Agnieszka Radwanska began her campaign with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Nina Bratchikova and Ana Ivanovic defeated 17-year-old Ukrainian qualifier Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-2.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2012.
World number one Victoria Azarenka put in a sublime performance as she breezed past Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round of the US Open.
Reigning Australian Open champion Azarenka, who has reached the last-eight in every Grand Slam event except the US Open, will next face Chinese 28th-seed Zheng Jie, who beat Slovakian qualifier Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-1.
The 23-year-old is looking for her 13th career title and fifth trophy of the year at Flushing Meadows.
“I would love to play for the title,” said Azarenka. “It’s a long way. I’m proud of everything I have achieved this season. It has been a great year.”
Djokovic pleased with show
Meanwhile, defending champion Novak Djokovic was pleased with his performance as he stormed into the second round defeating Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-1, 6-0, 6-1. “My game was great from start to finish,” said Djokovic. “It was important to be economical with my time on court. I tried to get to the net and stay focused.”
World number two Djokovic needed just 73 minutes to finish off an embarrassingly one-sided tie.
I feel great: Serena
Meanwhile, Serena Williams, the champion in 1999, 2002 and 2008, and twice a runner-up, was just as ruthless in the concluding match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, sweeping past US compatriot Coco Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-1.
“The conditions were really crazy, but it’s the US Open so you have to be ready for the worst conditions,” said Serena, who has won 37 of her last 39 matches on tour.
Serena next tackles Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
Wozniacki suffers shock exit
While Djokovic and Serena were enjoying evening strolls, next door on Louis Armstrong court, former world number one and 2009 runner-up Caroline Wozniacki, without a title this year, was crashing to a painful first-round loss.
The Danish eighth seed was beaten by world number 96 Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2, 6-2. Wozniacki came into the match with her knee heavily strapped, having picked up an injury at New Haven last week, and she needed more treatment before slipping to defeat.
“I tried and didn’t succeed in playing well,” said Wozniacki. “There were too many errors. It’s frustrating but I will have to move on.”
In other women’s singles matches, Venus Williams beat wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3, 6-1. Polish second-seed Agnieszka Radwanska began her campaign with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Nina Bratchikova and Ana Ivanovic defeated 17-year-old Ukrainian qualifier Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-2.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2012.