Top two seeds at the Mutua Madrid Open Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova both advanced to the third round of the tournament where they will face Ana Ivanovic and Lucie Safarova respectively.
The second-seeded Sharapova was the first to go through, beating Klara Zakopalova 6-4 6-3. Sharapova opened the match by breaking Zakopalova to love and then working her way to winning the set from a 4-1 lead. In the second set Sharapova built a 5-2 lead, but serving for the match she lost her serve. She won the match, however, breaking Zakopalova to love. In the third round Sharapova will play Lucie Safarova, who defeated Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3 6-4.
Top seed Azarenka overcame Andrea Hlavackova 6-3 7-6(2) and will play Ana Ivanovic in the third round. Ivanovic advanced with a 7-5 6-1 victory over Nadia Petrova, serving seven aces and scoring 77% on first serve. (via Sharapova’s official website, photo: Ralf Reinecke)
There are some great matches for the third round although the TV scheduling for WTA matches in Madrid has been abysmal so far. Sharapova will have her work cut out to beat Safarova, who has not had her serve broken in the first two matches. I think it will be a very tough match, but I think Sharapova will just have enough to sneak into the quarters.
Sharapova has her work cut out for her. But with her new form,it would be quite the match to watch. I am totally rooting for her. Now only if the TV airing of these matches would sort itself.