DUBAI, 21 February 2007 — Jelena Jankovic took just 61 minutes to sweep aside French teenager Aravane Rezai 6-1, 6-2 for a place in the second round of the Dubai Open.
The fifth-seeded Serb was rarely troubled against an opponent whose accuracy did not match her enthusiasm.
Although Rezai, 19, hit some impressive winners and sometimes-surprised Jankovic into errors by hitting deep to the baseline, her lack of consistency allowed the Serb an easy passage.
“I expected quite a tough match because I didn’t know how she was playing,” Jankovic told reporters. “I saw when I stepped on the court that she was hitting every ball no matter if it was high or low, she just goes for it.
“I tried just to control the points, not to let her set up, and I did okay. It can always it can be better, but for a first match I did good.”
Eighth seed Daniela Hantuchova dismissed Russia’s Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3, surrendering just one point in her first three service games, and closing out the match in style by conceding two in the final three games.
“It’s my third time here so I knew what to expect from the court,” Hantuchova said.
“It’s usually windy and not easy, but I felt like I dealt with the conditions well.
“I also knew she came here quite late and I was here already for a couple of days getting ready, so definitely I felt I had an advantage over her and used it in the right way,” the Slovak added.
Austrian qualifier Tamira Paszek claimed a surprise 7-5, 6-3 victory over Dubai-based Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik to set up a meeting with top seed and defending champion Justine Henin. Spanish Anabel Medina Garrigues showed Anne Kremer of Luxembourg the exit door by beating her 6-3, 6-4.
Second seed Amelie Mauresmo will play Vera Dushevina, who won an all-Russian clash when opponent Elena Likhovtseva retired ill after dropping the opening set 6-2.
Venus Makes Triumphant
Return From Wrist Injury
In Memphis, Tennessee, five-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams beat Japan’s Akiko Morigami 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 Monday at a WTA and ATP event in only her third match since last July due to a left wrist injury.
Seventh seed Williams made her 2007 debut by reaching the second round of the $757,000 event while men’s fifth seed Xavier Malisse made an exit in the first round after a right wrist injury forced a retirement from his match.
Williams, ranked 53rd, has not won a title since capturing the 2005 Wimbledon crown.
Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili advanced 4-6, 2-2 when Malisse dropped out and another Russian, Evgeny Korolev, ousted US eighth seed Robby Ginepri 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-3.
Also joining the seeded scrap heap was France’s No. 3 Marion Bartoli. American Laura Granville ousted Bartoli 7-5, 4-6, 6-0.
Australian fifth seed Nicole Pratt defeated American Lilia Osterloh 6-3, 6-0 while US sixth seed Shenay Perry downed France’s Youlia Fedossova 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-5 and US eighth seed Jill Craybas beat Ireland’s Kelly Liggan 6-4, 6-4.
Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun eliminated Aussie Chris Guccione 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
