Mixed Results for Williams Sisters at Madrid Open
In opening round action at the 2012 Madrid Open, Serena Williams defeated 68th-ranked Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-1 to reach the second round, while sister Venus was a 6-4, 6-1 loser to Angelique Kerber. The ninth-seeded Serena had 13 aces and 40 winners against Vesnina, who seemed to have difficulty with the new blue clay courts of the Madrid Open.
"I’m feeling good, but I wasn’t thrilled,” said Serena, who advances to meet Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 winner over American Jill Craybas in round one. "This is my first tournament in Europe, so hopefully I will just keep my good form and just keep going."
Also advancing was 2011 U.S. Open winner Samantha Stosur, a 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 winner over American Christina McHale 2-6, 6-4, 6-0, and 2011 French Open winner Li Na, a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Silvia Soler-Espinosa. Defending Madrid Open champion Petra Kvitova defeated Marina Erakovic 6-2, 6-3 in her first-round match.
