By JUAN CARLOS CORDERO, UNO Unternational News Service.-
It was not an easy star for No. 1 of the world. Serena Williams had a one set scare versus Flavia Pennetta: "Oh, my God, I do not want to go home yet!!!", she talked to herself after the first set lost 6-2.
Serena Williams started slow but had little trouble avoiding an upset scare to advance at the Rogers Cup. At the end, it was a result as usual for the superstar who is working to get a calendar Grand Slam at the US Open, as well as to win the Rogers Cup for a fourth time in eight appearances in the Canadian women's tennis top tournament (champion in 2011 def. Jennifer Capriati in the final, 2001 winning over Samantha Stosur, and 2013 defeating Sorana Cirstea.
The world’s No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player lost the first set but came back to beat Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 on Tuesday afternoon at Aviva Centre.
Williams appeared sluggish early on, unable to get to baseline shots as Pennetta pained the corners to put the pressure on.
When she found her groove in the middle of the second set, Williams was no match for Pennetta, who tried her best shots but was overcame by the dominant power of Serena. It shows in the 6-0 during the third set. At a point, it could be 2-1 in a moment, but Williams knew better and make work for her performamce.
The 21-time Grand Slam winner was trying to avoid the Rogers Cup being without a Williams sister after Venus was eliminated in the first round Monday night in straight sets by Germany's Sabine Lisicki.
Earlier in the day, qualifier Mirjana Lucic-Baroni upset 10th-seeded Karolina Pliskova 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2.
Rain Monday made for a crowded schedule of 28 matches Tuesday, featuring three Canadians in singles play.
Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount, Que., was set to face Switzerland's Belinda Bencic in her first-round match on centre court at 7 p.m.
Richmond Hill's Carol Zhao played American Madison Brengle in the afternoon, while Montreal's Francoise Abanda will play 16th-seeded Andrea Petkovic of Germany after Bouchard's match.
Women's matches - Monday August 11, 2015
Rogers Cup
Venus Williams makes early exit from Rogers Cup
Williams, who waited out a lengthy rain delay only to lose her first-round match at the Rogers Cup 6-0, 6-3 to Germany’s Sabine Lisicki on Monday night.
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Alex Brandon / AP FILE PHOTO
In this July 14, 2015, file photo, Washington Kastles' Venus Williams hits the ball to Austin Aces' Nicole Gibbs during a team tennis match in Washington. After waiting out a lengthy rain delay, Germany's Sabine Lisicki defeated Williams 6-0, 6-3 Monday, Aug. 10, in their first-round match at the Rogers Cup.
Venus Williams shouted “Come On” loud enough for fans to hear her, then covered her mouth to mutter some more words to herself in frustration.
It was that kind of performance for Williams, who waited out a lengthy rain delay only to lose her first-round match at the Rogers Cup 6-0, 6-3 to Germany’s Sabine Lisicki on Monday night.
“I really had an off day,” Williams said. “It was definitely a long wait and tough to not warm up. My opponent and I were under the same conditions, and she played really well.”
Rain washed out most of the matches scheduled in the women’s half of the draw, and Williams and Lisicki didn’t take the court until after 10 p.m. When they finally started at 10:14, the 14th-seeded Williams wasn’t sharp, giving away seven points on double faults.
Lisicki, on the other hand, was strong in her service game and rarely made the kind of mistakes that cost Williams.
“Against Venus you have to play well to be able to beat her,” Lisicki said. “You have to be ready and fight for every point, and I’m very pleased with my performance.”
Lisicki looked at the draw and knew she had to be prepared from the start of the tournament. She didn’t know she’d have to wait more than three hours from the scheduled start time to get going.
Instead of her usual rain-delay ritual of ping-pong, the 24th-ranked player in the world played a game of UNO. After being so dominant against Williams, Lisicki might have to try that again.
During the match, some fans cheered on Lisicki but many tried to encourage Williams as she struggled. To no avail.
“It’s hard to just, first round, play a player who doesn’t give you any rhythm,” Williams said. “Just a tough draw and bad luck.”
Only one other singles match was completed Monday, as Ottawa’s Gabriel Dabrowski lost 6-4, 6-1 to Italy’s Flavia Pennetta on centre court.
The weather forced a crowded schedule for Tuesday, which will feature Westmount, Que.’s Eugenie Bouchard against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic on centre court to start the night session.
World No. 1 Serena Williams, who has 14 more Grand Slam titles than her sister, faces Pennetta in second-round action Tuesday afternoon.
Carol Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont., will face American Madison Brengle in the afternoon after that Monday match was rained out.
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