Wimbledon: Venus Eases Through, Zvonareva Struggles

Venus makes easy debut in London

Venus Williams has flown into the second term at the English Grand Slam after easing past Akgul Amanmuradova in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, to meet Kimiko Date Krumm in the next round.

World number 23 Williams first broke the Uzbek in the fourth term, something which allowed her to go even 4-1 ahead at one point. Amanmuradova could only hold two services as the American clinched the opener in half an hour. As for the second set, it saw the same Venus break through to a five-game advantage thanks to three more breaks to finish the game with a 100% percentage of her service points. Williams will next meet Krumm who also made an easy progress after ousting Katie O’Brien 6-0, 7-5.

Said Venus: “It was a jumper. Jumpers are very now, as is lace. The shoulders have a lot of draping, which is also in the moment. It’s just a trendy dress. It’s fun. I’m really into zippers, so it has a focal point of a zipper in the front. And the back is a cut-out, or a peek-a-boo. It’s just fun.

On the same second half of the table, world number three and second favorite Vera Zvonareva overcame Alison Riske 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 in the opening day to set a meeting with compatriot Elena Vesnina who eliminated Laura Pous 6-4, 6-3. The two are expected to meet for the seventh time, the head to head series between the two being led by the 26-year-old who has defeated Vesnina five times in their previous clashes, last occasion at this term’s Madrid Masters. On the other side, Vesnina’s only win dates from the 2010 Sydney event.

Vonareva grabbed three breaks in the opener against Riske, but allowed the American to go 4-2 ahead in the second set, something which helped her to level the score. As for the decider, it saw the same Russian grab two precious breaks in the second and eighth game and Riske grab Vera’s second serve. The American managed to make it 3-3, only to be left three games behind later on.

The same day Romania’s Alexandra Dulgheru ousted Jill Craybas of United States 6-2, 6-4 and will next meet Svetlana Kuznetsova who edged Shuai Zhang after losing the first set, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Yanina Wickmayer and Anna Tatishvili will also fight for a place into the third ter. The Belgian eliminated Varvara Lepchenko 7-5, 6-3, while her next opponent overcame Anastasia Pivovarova of Russian 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Pauline Parmentier stunned Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-3 in the opening day and will next meet Ksenia Pervak of Russia who had some hard times against Shahar Peer whom she impressed 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, providing one of the biggest surprises of the first round. Sara Errani eliminated Kaia Kanepi in two sets, 6-1, 6-4, to meet either Kateryna Bondarenko or Alize Cornet.

One of the main favorites Francesca Schiavone ousted Jelena Dokic in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 and will next play the winner between Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and Aleksandra Wozniack. American Christina McHale eliminated Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 2-6, 6-1, 8-6 and will next face either Ayiumi Morita or Tamira Paszek.

Top Caroline Wozniacki is to make her debut against Arantxa Parra whom she’ll play in tomorrow’s sessions, while the French Open champion Li Na starts the English adventure against Alla Kudryavtseva. Serena Williams, who just returned from a long-term sideline, will play Aravane Rezai in the opener. Marion Bartoli has been drawn with Kristyna Pliskova of Czech Republic.

Winner of the Miami Masters and Marbella event Victoria Azarenka plays Magdalena Rybarikova in the first term, while Petra Kvitova confronts Alexa Glatch in the opening round. Finally, Jelena Jankovic will make her debut on the Wimbledon grass against Maria Jose Martinez.

Other fixtures:

Sania Mirza – Virginie Razzani

Anastasia Rodionova – Andrea Hlavackova

Dominika Cibulkova – Mirjana Lucic

Polona Hercog – Johanna Larsson

Mathilde Johansson – Heather Watson

Anabel Medina – Julia Gorges

Samantha Stosur – Melinda Czink

Anastasiya Yakimova – Sofia Arvidsson

Elena Baltacha – Mona Barthel

Kirsten Flipkens – Shuai Peng

Lucie Safarova – Lucie Hradecka

Klara Zakopalova – Emily Webley Smith

Angelique Kerber – Laura Robson

Anna Chakvetadze – Maria Sharapova

Sabine Lisicki – Anastasija Sevastova

Jie Zheng – Zuzana Ondraskova

Misaki Doi – Bethanie Mattek Sands

Ana Ivanovic – Melanie Oudin

Coco Vandeweghe – Eleni Daniilidou

Kristina Barrois – Petra Cetkovska

Olga Govortsova – Agnieszka Radwanska

Lourdes Dominguez – Romina Oprandi

Evgeniya Rodina – Chanelle Scheepers

Irina Begu – Flavia pennetta

Maria Kirilenko – Alberta Brianti

Tamarine Tanasugarn – Yaroslava Shvedova

Simona Halep – Taroslava Jovanovski

Aravane Rezai – Serena Williams

Ayumi Morita – Tamira Paszek

Christina McHale – Ekaterina Makarova

Irina Falconi – Stephanie Dubois

Stephanie Foretz Gacon – Andrea Petkovic

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – Lesia Tsurenko

Vesna Dolonts – Nadia Petrova

Kateryna Bondarenko – Alize Cornet

Sara Errani – Kaia Kanepi

Daniela Hantuchova – Vitalia Diatchenko

Kai Chen Chang – Marina Erakovic

Sandsa Zahlavova – Iveta Benesova

Magdalena Rybarikova – Victoria Azarenka

Petra Kvitova – Alexa Glatch

Naomi Broady – Anne Keothavong

Rebecca Marino – Patricia Mayr Achleitner

Vera Dushevina – Roberta Vinci

Jelena Jankovic – Marie Jose Martinez

Monica Niculescu – Sybille Bammer

Tsvetana Pironkova – Camila Giorgi

Vania King – Petra Martic

Wimbledon Prize Money and points:

Winner – 1,100,000 pounds and 2000 points WTA

Runner-up – 550,000 pounds and 1,400 points WTA

Semi finalist – 275,000 pounds and 900 points WTA

Quarter finalist – 137,500 pounds and 500 points WTA

R16 – 68,750 pounds and 280 points WTA

R32 – 34,375 pounds and 160 points WTA

R64 – 20,125 pounds and 100 points WTA

R128 – 11,500 pounds and 5 points WTA11