Women Tennis Update – Doha

Written by: Staff on 13th February 2013

Women Tennis Update - Doha

epa03551039 Serena Williams of the US hits a backhand during her quarter final match against Sloane Stephens of the US at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2013. EPA/BARBARA WALTON |

Doha

Serena Williams moved to within two wins of reclaiming the world No.1 ranking after opening her campaign at Doha in the easiest possible fashion, 6-2, 6-1 over Russian lucky loser Daria Gavrilova in the second round. Williams showed no signs of the fitness problems which troubled her in Australia, a back and an ankle. “I have it heavily taped,” the second seed said of her ankle which led to a loss in Melbourne to Sloane Stephens, “As long as the tape doesn’t get loose, it feels really good. Physically feeling better is so good, and hopefully I can stay on that level.

Williams is locked in a three-way race for the top WTA spot currently held by Victoria Azarenka with Maria Sharapova also contending to seize the summit. The Russian, seeded third, advanced over qualifier Caroline Garcia of France 6-3, 6-2. German Mona Barthel upset compatriot and fifth seed Angelique Kerber in another easy scoreline, 6-1, 6-2.

First round play wrapped up in the Gulf as French ninth seed Marion Bartoli won her first match in years without her coach-father in the stands, deepening the slump of former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 7-6(5), 6-3. No. 11 Russian Nadia Petrova took out Czech Andrea Hlavackova 6-2, 6-3 while Ekaterina Bychkova knocked out 12th seed Maria Kirilenko as the Russian retired with a right shoulder injury.

The 15th-seeded Italian Roberta Vinci advanced as Belgian Yanina Wickmayer quit with low back pain after 11 games. Stephens put out Anna Tatishvili 6-2, 6-2. Daniela Hantuchova beat Britain’s Laura Robson 6-4, 6-1.

Other results: Lucie Safarova, 17, (CZE) d. Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) 6-2, 6-3, Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d. Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 6-1, 6-2, Klara Zakopalova (CZE) d. Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 7-6(8), 3-0 ret. (upper respiratory illness). Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE) d (Q) Tadeja Majeric (SLO) 6-4, 6-4.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Doha tennis news, Lucie Safarova, Marion Bartoli, Nadia Petrova, Roberta Vinci, Serena Williams, Sports