Agnieszka Radwanska pushes through into the second round of the China Open, Samantha Stosur out

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Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska advanced into the second round of the China Open in Beijing on Sunday, just like top-seeded Serena Williams and seed No.4 Li Na, while 15th-seed Samatha Stosur suffered an elimination.

Radwanska managed to pass into the second round by defeating 56th-ranked Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland in a tight three-set match that lasted two hours and 14 minutes, 4-6 6-4 6-4. Radwanska had one more double fault than her opponent, but she managed to save more break points, 13 of 17 to Voegele’s 5 of 10, and that decided the outcome of the match. Agnieszka later said that they’d known each other for a long time and even though they played all the junior tournaments she and Stefanie never faced each other before.

Top seed Serena Williams quickly beat Elena Vesnina of Russia in their fourth meeting, 6-4 6-2. Their head-to-head record is now 4-0 for Serena. Previously they faced each other at the 2008 US Open when Serena eliminated Elena 6-1 6-1, and in Charleston and Madrid in 2012.

Seed No.4 Li Na eliminated Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 6-0 6-4 in one hour and 25 minutes in their seventh meeting. The only seeded player that didn’t pass into the second round on Sunday was the 15th-seeded Samantha Stosur who was defeated by 35th-ranked Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic for the seventh time in one hour and 34 minutes, 7-5 6-3. They had already met twice this year and both times Safarova won. With today’s victory Safarova is leading in their head-to-head encounters 7-2.

In other matches played on Sunday Lauren Davis ousted Mona Barthel 6-0 5-7 6-4, Laura Robson beat Klara Zakopalova in a tight three-set match 7-6(3) 4-6 6-1, Misaki Doi defeated Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-1 6-1, Kaia Kanepi eliminated Julia Georges 7-5 6-4, and Madison Keys stunned Dominika Cibulkova in one hour and 31 minutes, 6-4 6-3. Seed No.13 Sabine Lisicki of Germany quickly eliminated Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa in one hour and 12 minutes, 6-3 6-2, and Maria Kirilenko of Russia, ranked 19th, defeated Zhang Jie in one hour and 51 minutes, 7-5 6-2.

In the second round Serena Williams will meet wildcard Francesca Schiavone for the ninth time. So far Serena is leading their encounters 6-2. The last time they met was at the US Open when the world No.1 breezed into the second round by defeating Schiavone 6-0 6-1. Agnieszka Radwanska will face Madison Keys for the third time. They’ve played each other once in 2012 and this will be their second meeting this year. At Wimbledon the Pole won a tight three-set match against the American 7-5 4-6 6-3. Seed No.5 Sara Errani will meet qualifier Misaki Doi, while ninth seed Petra Kvitova is meeting Varvara Lepchenko of the United States. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

1 COMMENT

  1. I personally think Aga will crash out early simply because she’s too tired to play three straight weeks and the fact Li has only played one means I can soon see a ranking change.

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