Serena Rolls in Roland Garros Opener; Azarenka Ousted

May 24, 2016 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

World number one Serena Williams made a winning start to her 2016 French Open campaign on Tuesday, cruising past Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2, 6-0 to reach the Roland Garros second round.

Serena needed less than 45 minutes to get through Rybarikova, hitting 25 winners and committing just five unforced errors. She broke serve six times to bulldoze her way into a second round matchup with Teliana Pereira, who beat Kristyna Pliskova 7-5, 3-6, 9-7.

“It was a little short for me,” said Serena. “But I think in my career if I don’t have it by now I need to look into something different.”

Venus Williams outlasted Anett Kontaveit in two tie-breakers, advancing with a 7-6(5), 7-6(4) victory. She will take on fellow American Louisa Chirico, a 6-2, 2-6, 8-6 winner against another American, Lauren Davis.

Victoria Azarenka did not fare as well in her opener in Roland Garros. Karin Knapp notched her first career top 10 win by downing Azarenka 6-3, 6-7(6), 4-0 ret.

Azarenka struggled with a knee injury, and even after fighting back to win the second set in a tiebreaker, saw Knapp race out to a 4-0 lead in the third set before the Belarusian retired.

“Heading into the match today I was feeling fine. I was ready to play,” said Azarenka. “But I started to feel a sharp pain in my right knee. I’ve had an injury there before, a while ago, but it hasn’t been a problem until today. At first it was on and off and I was able to win the tie-break, but then it got worse as the match went on, and unfortunately there was nothing I could do.”

In the second round, Knapp will take on Anastasija Sevastova, who ousted American qualifier Sachia Vickery 6-2, 6-2.

Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber was bounced in her first round matchup, falling to Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands. Bertens pushed through with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory, setting up a second round match with Camila Giorgi, who defeated Alize Lim 6-3, 6-2.

Americans Madison Keys, Taylor Townsend and Irina Falconi also won their respective first round matches on Tuesday. 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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