Sharapova blanks Mattek, Jankovic starts title defense
CHARLESTON, South Carolina: Maria Sharapova blanked American Bethanie Mattek 6-0, 6-0 in less than an hour in the second round of the Family Circle Cup on Wednesday.
The second-seeded Russian star, coming off her first clay-court title last week at Amelia Island, was looking for her fourth tournament victory of the year.
"I played a lot of tennis in Amelia last week," Sharapova said. "You just try to get the job done out there and do it as fast as you can, and hopefully get the 'W' and leave."
Wednesday's performance on the green clay at Daniel Island was a long way from the 20-year-old Russian's first appearance in Charleston. In 2003, she made the field as a qualifier only to lose in the first round.
"I was walking around the grounds the other day looking at some of the courts I played on and some of the back courts I played on five years ago and thought how things have changed, for the good," the 19-time tour winner said.
Top-seeded Jelena Jankovic opened her title defense by beating American qualifier Alexandra Stevenson 7-5, 6-0.
Jankovic, following her first final of the year on the hardcourts at Key Biscayne, had some trouble putting away Stevenson, who was playing in her first main draw since August 2006. Jankovic prevailed after losing her serve twice in the first, and saved all three break points she faced in the second.
"I'm just trying to get my timing," Jankovic said. "It's a different game. The points are longer. You really have to know how to move well.
"It's my first match on clay and I didn't know what to expect from myself," said Jankovic, who is ranked No 5 in the world. "First matches are always tough, but I was able to play a little better in the second set. Hopefully, throughout the tournament I will play better."
Two Russian seeds, No 4 Elena Dementieva and No 9 Vera Zvonareva, cruised into the third round.
Dementieva, the runner-up on her last visit in 2005, beat American Jill Craybas 6-0, 6-2, and Zvonareva downed Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-1, 6-0 in 48 minutes.
No 7 Patty Schnyder, a two-time finalist making her 12th visit to Charleston, beat Olga Govortsova of Belarus 7-6 (2), 6-0, and next meets No 11 Agnieszka Radwanska, who outlasted Edina Gallovits of Romania 6-7 (7), 6-2, 7-5.
No 12 Katarina Srebotnik came back to beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, and plays Serena Williams in the third round.
No 13 Victoria Azarenka topped Sun Tiantian of China 7-6 (4), 6-0.
Agencies
(China Daily 04/18/2008 page22)
