TOKYO: Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka eased into the third round of the Pan Pacific Open with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Austria’s Tamira Paszek yesterday.
Two-time champion Maria Sharapova had a tougher time subduing British qualifier Heather Watson 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-4, while 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the fourth seed, was upset by Petra Martic of Croatia 6-4, 6-4.
Other winners included Grand Slam champions Li Na and Sam Stosur.
Azarenka played her first match since losing a thriller in the US Open final to Serena Williams.
“This was my first match after a little break and that’s never easy,” she said. “But I was able to play some good tennis and I enjoyed it.” Next up will be Roberta Vinci of Italy, who beat qualifier Pauline Parmentier of France 6-3, 6-1.
Watson pushed Sharapova to three sets in their last match at the 2011 US Open, and did it again by winning a marathon tiebreaker in the first set.
“I was facing someone who had gone through the qualis and already played so I was definitely the rustier of the two,” said Sharapova, who had 14 double faults. “Overall, it was just one of those matches where you are glad to be through.” The second-seeded Sharapova, who won here in 2005 and 2009, took control of the third set when she broke Watson’s serve for 4-3. She sealed the win when Watson sent a forehand return long.
Sharapova’s next opponent, Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, moved on when compatriot Klara Zakopalova was unable to play because of a left wrist injury.
“She’s a tough player,” Sharapova said. “She had a break today with the walkover while I played three hours but hopefully that won’t be a factor.” Kvitova said she had trouble establishing her game against the hard-hitting Martic, who was playing her second tournament since recovering from a foot injury at the French Open. This was the biggest win of her career.
“Petra has really improved her forehand,” Kvitova said. “She hits it very hard down the line and crosscourt and in addition to her serve has a good slice which can be tough for players to handle.” Li defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, and Stosur overcame Francesca Schiavone 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Also through were Angelique Kerber of Germany, Sara Errani of Italy, Marion Bartoli of France and Nadia Petrova of Russia.
Easy for Troicki
In Bangkok, former finalists Viktor Troicki of Serbia and Finn Jarkko Nieminen made winning starts at the Thailand Open yesterday, progressing to the second round.
Sixth seed Troicki had the tougher first round match, coming back from a set down to defeat Sergiy Stakhovsky of the Ukraine 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-3.
The fifth-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain beat Tatsuma Ito of Japan 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, taking a while on the indoor hard courts to gauge his first-time opponent.
The win broke a losing streak for world No. 31 Troicki who was knocked out in the first rounds of his previous two tournaments.
“I’m happy with this first-round performance,” said the Serb who will play either Frenchman Gael Monfils or South African qualifier Kevin Anderson in the next round.
“No matter whom I play in the next round, it will be a tough match again for sure. I hope I can keep playing as well as I did today,” he added. Nieminen, defeated finalist in 2010 to Guillermo Garcia Lopez, progressed after just 35 minutes when Japan’s Yuichi Sugita retired following a 6-1 loss in the first set.
Troicki and Nieminen were joined in the second round by Israeli Dudi Sela, who defeated Roger Federer’s childhood friend Marco Chiudinelli 6-4, 6-4.
