Women Tennis Update (02/20/13): Dubai, Memphis

Written by: Staff on 20th February 2013

Women Tennis Update (02/20/13): Dubai, Memphis

epa03591997 Serena Williams of US speaks during a press conference during the third day of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 20 February 2013. Williams has been forced to withdraw from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships due to a lower back injury. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

Dubai

SERENA WILLIAMS PULLS OUT – but she had her hopes up.

“I’ve already reached a goal, but I haven’t really had time to reflect,” said the American, who is playing the emirate for the first time since 2009, when she reached a semi-final on her second appearance.

“It’s been so much, so fast,” Williams added after returning to the top spot after an absence of several years. “Now I’m No. 1 and I’m focusing on my next goal, which is the Grand Slams.” Williams starts play against France’s Marion Bartoli.

French Open finalist Sara Errani, the fifth seed, began with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 defeat of German Julia Goerges as she eliminated last year’s losing finalist at the first hurdle. Russian Nadia Petrova beat Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

But there was hard luck for two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova as she won through qualifying but then lost her opener to Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-2. Dubai-based Sveta insisted she has no hard feeling about being denied a wild card by her “home” event. Williams said that – faced with a hypothetical similar question – that she would not have played.

Three seeds advance smoothly, as No. 6 Petra Kvitova beat qualifier Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-1, seventh seed Samantha Stosur put out Russian Ekaterina Makarova, 6-3, 6-1 and Caroline Wozniacki, the No. 8. beat Czech Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-2. China’s Jie Zheng denied two Radwanskas in the field as she beat Urszula 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

Memphis

Another quiet day in Music City, with the low-key women’s event throwing up a handful of matches. Two players are already past the second round, with seventh seed Magdalena Rybarikova defeating American Lauren Davis 7-6(2), 6-2 and Jamie Hampton putting out compatriot Coco Vandeweghe of San Diego 6-3, 6-0.

The first round wrapped up as German third seed Sabine Lisicki added to home nation troubles with her defeat of Madison Keys 7-5, 6-3. Melanie Oudin completed the dismal day’s showings for the US with her loss to Andrea Hlavackova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Qualifier Claire Feuerstein of France beat Czech fifth seed Lucie Hradecka 6-3, 6-4.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Dubai tennsi news, Madison Keys, Magdalena Rybarikova, Memphis tennis news, Sara Errani, Serena Williams, women tennis news, Wta