TENNIS – Favourites Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, who are on collision cours for a possible blockbuster semifinal, made a winning start to their Rome campaign. Diego Sampaolo
Maria Sharapova, who won back-to-back titles in Rome (2011 and 2012), was leading 6-2 3-1 when Australian Jarmila Gajdosowa was forced to retire because of a shoulder injury. Sharapova broke serve in the fourth game after missing two break points chances in the first game. Masha wrapped up the first set without facing any break point chances. Sharapova went up a break in the fourth game before Gajdosova withdrew from the match
Two-time defending champion Serena Williams, bounced back from her defeat in the Madrid semifinal with a 6-1 6-2 win over Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova in just 62 minutes. At 1-1 Serena won five games in a row before facing a break-back point in the second set: pavlyuchenkova won six consecutive points at 1-5. But Serena broke serve to close the second set with 6-3.
Serena has extended her winning streak to 15 matches in the Eternal City.
“I love Rome. I love coming to Rome. I have always playing in Europe in general. It’s always a special place for me and I am always sad when I leave”, said Williams
Carla Suarez Navarro, the third Spanish player to reach the top-10, overcame German Mona Barthel with 6-4 2-6 6-3.
Lucie Safarova fought back from a set down and a 3-5 deficit in the third set to battle past Anna Karolina Schmiedlova with 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (3-7) 6-4.
Jelena Jankovic edged Italian Camila Giorgi 7-5 7-5.
Viktoria Azarenka also rallied from losing the second set to edge past Lucie Hradecka with 7-5 2-6 6-1.
World Number 19 Elina Svitolina, Roland Garros Junior champion in 2010 and winner in Marrakesh this year, dfeated Flavia Pennetta 6-4 6-2 Svitolina went up a break in the first set and pulled away to 2-0 30-0. Pennetta recovered and went up 3-2 before earning two break points for 4-2. The young Ukrainian player fought back winning three consecutive games to take a 5-3 lead. Pennetta saved three set points but Safarova clinched the first set on her eighth set point on her next service game. Svitolina went up a break in the opening game of the second set. Pennetta break back for 2-2 but Svitolina reeled four games in a row to clinch the second set with 6-2 after one hour and 18 minutes.
Timea Bacsinzky cliniched a close match in two sets against Sabine Lisicki with 6-4 6-3.
