Wozniacki, Kvitova, Ivanovic and Kirilenko Lead Charge Into Second Round of Open
On Tuesday, Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova, Ana Ivanovic and Maria Kirilenko all advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open. Wozniacki came into the U.S. Open playing well and continued her fine play on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court with a straight sets 6-2, 7-5 win over Ying-Ying Duan.
The seventh seeded Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon champion, defeated 92nd-ranked Misaki Doi, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 and 13th-seeded Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open winner, dispatched Georgia’s Anna Tatishvili, 6-2, 6-0.
Doi fought all match and had numerous break chances, but Kvitova denied Doi on 14 of her first 15 break chances to stay in control. In just under two hours from when it began Kvitova hit a forehand winner to seal the victory. Kvitova booked a second-round match against Serbian Bojana Jovanovski, who ousted Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-4.
The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam event where Kvitova has not reached the semifinals, her best runs being to the fourth round in 2012 and 2009. Kvitova is the highest-ranked rival in the quarter of the draw to second seed and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, who begins her quest for a return to the U.S. Open final later against German Dinah Pfizenmaier.
"I never play well in the America, and last year I played well when I won the U.S. Open Series and played fourth round here," said Kvitova. "So I have good motivation to improve my results here."
Ivanovic, who could face Azarenka in the fourth round, needed only 58 minutes to advance past Anna Tatishvili 6-2, 6-0 and will now face Alexandra Dulgheru in the second round. Ivanovic reached the last eight at the U.S. Open for the first time last year, her first Slam quarterfinal since claiming the crown at Roland Garros.
"I’m very confident with the game and the way I’ve been playing," said Ivanovic. "I know I prepared very well. I have a new team with me, and obviously it takes time to get comfortable to get things to work and to work smoothly. I’m very happy with the way everything is and just trying to enjoy my time."
Kirilenko, seeded 14th, drew a tough assignment in the first round, being matched up against 2009 U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium. Kirilenko however, looked to be in top form as she easily dispatched of Wickmayer, 6-1, 6-1.
Local favorite Christina McHale won her opening round match on the Grandstand using the crowd support to take her game up a notch, McHale was in control throughout and won 6-4, 6-3 in straight sets against Julia Goerges. McHale will next face the winner of the match between 17th seeded Dominique Cibulkova and Elina Svitolina.
"I just tried to really just not get ahead of myself during the match and just focus on each game," said McHale. "I stayed pretty consistent and I went for my shots when I needed to. I think that was the key to the match."
Credit photos to Adam Wolfthal
The seventh seeded Petra Kvitova defeated 92nd-ranked Misaki Doi, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 on Tuesday at the U.S. Open
New Jersey’s Christina McHale was in control throughout and won her Tuesday afternoon match 6-4, 6-3 in straight sets against Julia Goerges
