ROME (AP) ? Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova overcame eight double-faults to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 7-5, 6-4 in her opening match at the Italian Open on Tuesday.
By Andrew Medichini, AP
Maria Sharapova powers a backhand during her 7-5, 7-5 vctory Tuesday against Christina McHale of the USA at the Italian Open in Rome.
By Andrew Medichini, AP
Maria Sharapova powers a backhand during her 7-5, 7-5 vctory Tuesday against Christina McHale of the USA at the Italian Open in Rome.
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Kvitova struggled with the bright sunshine at the Foro Italico but still managed to dictate the second-round match with her attacking game.
"I didn't feel very well and so I am happy I won, and I know where there is space where I can improve before the next round," Kvitova said.
Defending champion Maria Sharapova also advanced to the third round after holding off a strong challenge from Christina McHale of the United States 7-5, 7-5, and Venus Williams eliminated Simona Halep of Romania 6-3, 6-4.
"It was different than last week," Williams said, referring to the experimental blue surface in Madrid, where she lost in the second round. "I sort of had to make some adjustments to get used to this court.
"It was kind of windy and with the shadows it was kind of tough to see the ball and it made it very difficult and so I was happy that I finished it well," Williams added.
Meanwhile, two-time champion Jelena Jankovic lost 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) to Sorana Cirstea of Romania.
In men's action on the red clay courts, fourth-ranked Andy Murray battled past David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in a solid return after taking last week off because of a bad back.
Also, Juan Carlos Ferrero defeated 13th-seeded Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-3 to improve to 3-0 in his career against the Frenchman.
In other matches, sixth-seeded David Ferrer beat fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 10th-seeded Juan Martin del Potro downed Michael Llodra of France 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, and 14th-seeded Juan Monaco routed Romanian qualifier Adrian Ungur 6-2, 6-2.
Also, Marcel Granollers of Spain beat 15th-seeded Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4, and 16th-seeded Richard Gasquet eliminated Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-1, 7-6 (8-6).
In the night session, top-ranked Novak Djokovic will face rising Australian teenager Bernard Tomic and Serena Williams meets Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan.
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