Serena struggles, Djokovic, Nadal through
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Top seed Serena Williams stumbled her way into the third round of the China Open in Beijing yesterday while men’s favorites Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal powered through their opening matches.
World No. 1 Williams at times appeared agitated during her 6-4, 7-5 victory over Italian Francesca Schiavone, shouting at herself over lost points.
The American only showed rare moments of her trademark powerplay, gaining the upper hand in the first set via a mistake from her opponent, who double-faulted on set point.
The top seed Williams was forced to become more aggressive in the second set after her serve was broken in the first game by Schiavone, Italy’s first Grand Slam winner, at Roland Garros in 2010, and the current world No. 50.
As the competition intensified both players’ tempers threatened to boil over, with Williams ranting and Schiavone smashing balls into the barriers at the side of the court in Beijing.
But Williams seemed calmer Ñ and quieter Ñ as she closed in on a hard-earned victory.
“I was able to save some energy, so I started walking slower and taking my time more. When I did that, I actually won three or four games in a row,” she said.
Her sister Venus, meanwhile, crashed out 1-6, 2-6 to Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki. The 12th seed Carla Suarez Navarro defeated American Lauren Davis 6-4, 6-2 to book her place in the third round.
On the men’s side, Djokovic signalled his intent to reclaim the title he won last year, sweeping aside Lukas Rosol 6-0, 6-3.
The Serbian world No. 1 Ñ and top seed Ñ dumped out his Czech challenger in just 53 minutes.
Nadal, who could unseat Djokovic in the world rankings after Beijing, faced slightly more resistance from Santiago Giraldo, with the Spaniard claiming a 6-2, 6-4 win in about 90 minutes.
The second seed will now face German Philipp Kohlschreiber, while Djokovic will meet Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in the second round.
Fifth seed Richard Gasquet and sixth seed Stanislas Wawrinka both safely negotiated their way through.
France’s Gasquet defeated Florian Mayer of Germany 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), while Switzerland’s Wawrinka needed three sets to overcome Italian Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Verdasco claimed victory over Somdev Devvarman of India 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 and American Sam Querrey defeated Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
In Tokyo, top seed Juan Martin del Potro survived a stiff test to beat Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Japan Open yesterday while defending champion Kei Nishikori flirted with disaster before squeaking through.
Nishikori, who became the host country’s first winner of the event last year, had to dig deep to overcome Austria’s Jurgen Melzer 6-7, 7-5, 6-2.
Fifth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon, who beat fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win his first title of the year in Metz last week, pulled out of his first-round match against Spain’s Marcel Granollers with a groin strain.
Second seed Tsonga, the 2009 Tokyo champion, safely negotiated his way into the second round on Monday.
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