Schiavone Eases Through In Brussels, Bartoli Marches On In Strasbourg

Schiavone beats Pironkova to move on (Foto: guardian.co.uk)

Third-seeded Francesca Schiavone has progressed into the second round at the Brussels Open after eliminating Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2, 7-5 in the opener. World number five will next play the unseeded youngster Irina Falconi of United States.

Schiavone was very close to face an early scare after the Bulgarian managed to win five games and push the opener almost into the tie-break. Fortunately, a late break helped the Italian clinch the first set by two games to stay in touch with a straight-set victory. As for the second set, Schiavone marched on past the losing pace Pironkova who allowed the Italian go four games adrift and claim the victory in windy conditions.

“When it’s so windy, it’s not easy to adjust. But I enjoyed it anyway. I need to play matches, run and feel my energy going up right now, with the French Open coming. I need that this week,” said the winner. Schiavone’s next stop is Irina Falconi who also made the progress into the next term after defeating Zuzana Ondraskova 7-5, 6-3.

On the second half of the table, Jelena Jankovic eased past Anastasia Rodionova 6-2, 6-3 thanks to a late rally which helped the Serb win five games in a row and clinch a pretty easy victory, to set a third meeting with Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden. Arvidsson beat Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 7-6 in the opener, but has lost both previous meetings with Jelena whom she plays on Wednesday.

Second favorite Vera Zvonareva is to make her debut in Brussels against Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan who reached the second round after Agnes Szavay was forced to pull over due to medical problems. Romania’s Alexandra Dulgheru needed three sets to pass Polona Hercog in the first round, beating her 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Dulgheru will next play Klara Zakopalova who was also pushed to the limits by Ksenia Pervak of Russian whom she finally edged 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

Abigail Spears managed to impress in the first round, beating Chanelle Scheepers in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. The American will next face Shuai Peng who ousted Kirsten Flipkens 6-0, 1-6, 6-3. Unseeded Alison Van Uytvanck has set a 100% Belgian second round, being expected to face compatriot Yanina Wickmayer. Uytvanck stunned Patty Schnyder 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the opener, while her next opponent edged Kaia Kanepi 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.

Ayumi Morita and Casey Dellacqua are to fight for a place into the third round. The Japanese eliminated Jie Zheng in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 to set her first meeting with the Aussie who provided one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. Dellacqua passed Shahar Peer 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 to become a real threat for the Japanese.

Finally, top seed Caroline Wozniacki, who is favored by a bye, is to make her Belgian debut in front of Varvara Lepchenko who eased past An-Sophie Mestach 6-3, 7-6 in the first round.

Marion Bartoli marches on in Strasbourg

The main favorite Marion Bartoli destroyed Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of the French event to meet Elena Baltacha of Scotland in the next term. The French won a couple of early break points in both sets to set her first meeting with the world number 83 Scott. On the same first half of the table, Mirjana Lucic edged Christina McHale of United States 7-5, 7-6 to face Jelena Dokic in the second round.

The Aussie eased past Romania’s Simona Halep 6-2, 6-1 in the opener and will meet Lucic for the second time. Dokic leads the head to head series with the world number 106 1-0, having defeated the Germany-born player at the 2008 Florence event.

The same day Lucie Hradecka beat Ahsha Rolle 6-3, 6-4 to meet Stephanie Foretz Gacon in the second round. The French ousted Alona Bondarenko in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1 to near her biggest success of the season. Finally, Anabel Medina eliminated Melanie Oudin 6-3, 6-1 and will next play Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia whobeat Alla Kudryavtseva 7-6, 6-3 in the opener.

On the second half of the table, Andrea Petkovic, who is still chasing her first title of the season, ousted Anna-lena Gronefeld 6-3, 6-1, being expected to meet Shuai Zhang in the second round. The Chinese has also made an easy progress, beating Pauline Parmentier in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

Laura Pous and Maria Kirilenko will also fight for a place into the last eight, the Russian beating Kristina Barrois 6-2, 6-3 in the first term. Meanwhile, her next opponent eased past Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-2. This year’s Pattaya City champion Daniela Hantuchova upset Johanna Larsson 6-3, 6-4 in the first round, and is to meet Mathilde Johansson in the next phase. The French grabbed a 6-1, 6-1 win over Akgul Amanmuradova and will face the Slovakian for the second time in career. Hantuchova leads the head to head confrontations 1-0, having defeated the world number 71 at the 2009 Australian Open.

Alize Cornet and Nadia Petrova will also fight for a quarter final berth. The French edged Sania Mirza 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 n the first set, while the Russian needed two sets to oust Canadian Rebecca Marino whom she finally passed 7-6, 6-3.11