May 7, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures
World number one-ranked Victoria Azarenka and number two-ranked Maria Sharapova have advanced to the second round of the 2012 Madrid Open after both had straight-set wins on the new blue-clay court surfaces. Sharapova defeated Irina-Camelia Begu in straight sets 6-0, 6-3. She won the first seven games and then Begu attempted to fight back; however, could not stand Sharapova’s overpowering shots.
Azarenka took down Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6, 6-4 in what was a tough opening match. She traded breaks in the first which went on to become a tiebreaker where Azarenka pulled through. In the second set, just as it looked as of it was going to another tiebreaker, Azarenka broke back to hold and take the match.
”It was a really close match, so I was just happy that I won because they were difficult games to break,” said Azarenka, who added that the differences between the new surface and traditional red clay were not limited to color.
Caroline Wozniacki also served six aces to win in three sets over Ksenia Pervak from Kazakhstan, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4. The fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska also advanced with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Lara Arruabarrena-Veci.
