Venus Williams used a strong serve and powerful groundstrokes to whip Aravane Rezai 6-1 6-2 in her opening match at the Amelia Island championship on Tuesday.
Williams needed just an hour to record the victory before saying she feels better than she has all year.
"Tonight was the most comfortable I've felt on the court of all the matches I've played this season," the American said. "I'm rounding into form at the right time with the claycourt season ahead."
Williams was near perfect on her first serve in the match. She won 14 of 18 points on her first serve in the opening set and was even better in the second, capturing all but two of 12 points.
The five-times grand slam title winner consistently frustrated Rezai by placing forehand shots down the line that the Frenchwoman could not reach.
"My service game was that strong in Memphis too," said Williams of the tournament she won in February.
"Yet last week at the Sony Ericsson [in Miami] I couldn't find my serve. My second serve was also very strong tonight. That definitely helped me hold serve," she said.
Williams never lost her serve and broke Rezai twice in both sets.
Meanwhile top-seeded Nadia Petrova needed just 78 minutes to beat Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-4, 6-0.
It was Petrova's first clay court match of the year but after struggling in the first set, the world's No. 7 ranked player breezed through the second set.
Kanepi only managed 13 points in the six games of the second set that took just 32 minutes to complete.
"The key was getting that first set under my belt and gaining some confidence," Petrova said. "I played with a little more freedom in that second set. I had to adjust to sliding on the court. It's quite difficult to judge the distance if you start sliding before you hit the ball."
Petrova had little problem with Kanepi's serve in the second set. She broke Kanepi three times, twice at love.
Petrova was one of six seeded players who played and won on Tuesday. No. 3-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia was a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives and fifth-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia also won in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5 over Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands.
Other seeded winners advancing were Katarina Srebotnik (No. 11) who beat Julia Vakulenko, Samantha Stosur (12) who was victorious over Virginia Ruano Pascual and Zheng Jie (15) who got by Mara Santangelo.
The Bausch & Lomb Championships is the first clay court event of the year on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour schedule. It is the third oldest US event on the tour, held for a 28th consecutive year at the Amelia Island Plantation located alongside the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely