US Open Tennis: Rounds 1 and 2 roundup for the top female stars

Here’s providing a roundup of the action in the Women’s division in the US Open. There has already been one huge upset and as expected some facile wins for the other top seeds. A look at the results and the upsets in the eve’s section

2 contrasting wins for Maria

AS EXPECTED

1. Caroline Wozniacki: The baffling no.1 seed brushed away her opponent as expected. Her credentials as the Top seed and Top ranked player are definitely questionable but she did no wrong in her first round victory, 6-3, 6-1

2. Vera Zvonareva: The 2nd seed is through to Round 3 with a comfortable straight set victory in her first round, 6-3, 6-0 and a tight 3 set win in her 2nd round, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. She is capable of reaching deep into the 2nd week. Just some minor mental adjustments to be made. She will next face no.30 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues for a place in the last 16.

3. Maria Sharapova: The major Russian favorite reached Round 3 with 2 contrasting performances. While her first round win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 was very thrilling, tight and could have gone wither way, her 2nd round win 6-1, 6-1 was a real cruise-ride. She will meet 26th seed Flavia Pennetta in the 3rd round.

4. Victoria Azarenka: She was a comfortable straight set victor, 6-1, 6-3

Wimbledon champion and No.5 seed Petra Kvitova reached round 2 with a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory. No.7 seed Francesca Schiavone had to fight her way through to Round 2 after a hard fought 3 set win. No.8 seed Marion Bartoli reached the 2nd round as well while No.9 seed Samantha Stosur reached the 3rd round with 2 comfortable straight set victories over her unheralded opponents. Stosur will next meet No.24 seed Nadia Petrova for a place in the last 16. No.10 seed Andrea Petkovic was another easy entrant to round 2.

THE UPSETS

Knockout punch from Halep

French Open champion and the great Chinese hope no.6 seed Na Li was bundled out in straight sets by the world’s no.1 teenager Simona Halep 2-6, 5-7. This is a huge result for Halep who till now has been very famous only for her breast reduction surgery. She was once this gigantically busty woman but she had to opt for surgery for her to play freely and this result will go a long way in reinforcing her as someone who can play good tennis as well.

For the 30 yr old Li, the year started off spectacularly but since then it has hit rock bottom. She made 54 unforced errors in this particular defeat. 30 yrs already, 2011 might just be one helluva roller-coaster season for her with crazy ups and downs.

THE INDIAN ANGLE

As usual, Sania Mirza was busted in the first round itself by familiar foe Israeli 23rd seed Shahar Peer. Sania won the first set tie breaker but she was blown away in the final 2 sets 3-6, 1-6. Mirza continues to reach new lows in her singles career. Sad story for a once prodigal talent.

THE WILLIAMS SISTERS

Serena Williams extended her career first round record to 45-0 with a 6-1, 6-1 straight set romp over Bojana Jovanovski. Ominous signs for her rivals indeed.

Elder sister Venus Williams had no such luck as she retired ill from her 2nd round match against No.22 seed and German darling Sabine Lisicki. Lisicki is on track …

More action to come in the following days. Will be back with more.