Written by
The Sports Network
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - Fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka was
an easy opening-round winner Tuesday at the 2011 U.S. Open.
The Belarusian Azarenka handled overmatched Swede Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-3 in
70 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Day 2 of the fortnight.
The 22-year-old Azarenka reached her first career Grand Slam semifinal last
month at Wimbledon.
Meanwhile, 22nd-seeded German Sabine Lisicki stayed hot by leveling Ukrainian
Alona Bondarenko 6-3, 6-3 and 26th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta pasted
France's Aravane Rezai 6-1, 6-4 on the grounds at the USTA Billie Jean King
National Tennis Center. The rising Lisicki was last week's hardcourt titlist
in Grapevine, Texas, where she beat Rezai in the final, and reached her first
career major semi at the All England Club last month.
Lisicki's second-round opponent will be non-seed Venus Williams, the former
world No. 1 who is a seven-time Grand Slam champ, including U.S. Open titles
back in 2000 and 2001.
Another first-round win came for Argentine veteran Gisela Dulko, who should
have her hands full with Azarenka in the round of 64.
This year's women's U.S. Open singles champ will pocket at least $1.8
million, and U.S. Open Series winner Serena Williams, seeded 28th here, has a
shot at earning a record $2.8 million in the Big Apple. The three-time U.S.
Open titlist Serena has won her last 12 matches overall and will see action
here on Tuesday night.
The Sports Network