Venus Williams Battles Against Qualifier
02 September 2010
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Venus Williams was made to battle in the opening set of her second round match as qualifier Rebecca Marino took the match to the former world number one.
While Williams, who is the third seed in Flushing Meadows, won in straight sets it was the first test for her after she breezed through her opening round match earlier in the week.
It was the first time that the two had met and while Marino had won her first match on the tour in her previous match she stood her ground against Williams as her serve held well.
Both women served well and still locked together at 6-6 a tie break was needed to decide the opening set. And it was the teenager who got the first mini break.
But she couldn't hold onto her advantage as Williams took six points on the bounce to take the breaker 7-3 and the first set.
While Marino continued to battle in the second set the match was over when Williams broke through in the fourth game. She went on to take the match 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
Speaking to the BBC after the match Williams said: "It was challenging, not just with the conditions, but also my opponent.
"She served so well and mixes up her shots. It seemed like every time I had an opening she came up with a big serve, so I guess I know what it's like now playing myself."
And Williams will face another qualifier in the third round as she has set up a clash with Mandy Minella as she saw off Ksenia Pervak 6-4 4-6 7-5.
It was a good day for the big seeds in the draw as defending champion Clijsters also came through as the Belgian dropped just three games on her way to a 6-2 6-1 victory over Sally Peers.
She will now face Petra Kvitova in the next round as the twenty seventh seed saw off Britain's Elena Baltacha 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.
Ana Ivanovic also only dropped three games as she demolished Jie Zheng of China 6-3 6-0 to set up a clash with Virginie Razzano and she could still meet Clijsters in the fourth round.
Samantha Stosur is also through as she saw off fellow Australian Anastasia Rodionova 6-1 6-4 while Francesca Schiavone continued her march through the draw with another impressive 6-1 6-0 victory over Ayumi Morita.
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