2013/06/19

On the Green Carpet – Photos from the 2013 BNP Paribas Open Players’ Party

Victoria Azarenka and Redfoo

Victoria Azarenka and Redfoo

"Austin Powers" and Caroline Wozniacki

“Austin Powers” and Caroline Wozniacki

(March 7, 2013) INDIAN WELLS, California – The BNP Paribas Open held their players’ party at the IW club on Thursday night. The tennis players drove up to the “Green Carpet” in classic cars included  Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Victoria Azarenka, Redfoo, Sloane Stephens, Petra Kvitova, Andy Murray, Ana Ivanovic, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, John Isner, Agnieszka Radwanska, Sam Stosur, James Blake, David Ferrer,  and a host of others including Austin Powers.

Photos by Curt Janka and Maria Noble. Follow Tennis Panorama News’ BNP Paribas Open coverage here and on our twitter @TennisNewsTPN.

 

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BNP Paribas Showdown Debuts in Hong Kong with Wozniacki, Radwanska, McEnroe and Lendl

Wozniacki Radwanska at BNP Paribas Showdown Hong Kong

By Natalie Ho

(March 4, 2013) HONG KONG – The BNP Paribas Showdown exhibition matches held at Madison Square Garden has a new sister event this year, held 13 time zones away in Hong Kong. While Hong Kong has the same amount of sky scrapers to match the Big Apple, Hong Kong’s tennis development is a long way behind, especially after losing the city’s men’s tour event some years ago. It is therefore to local tennis lovers’ great delight that a star-studded lineup had been confirmed to play the BNP Paribas Showdown Hong Kong that is part of a marathon of tennis events held across the world today to celebrate World Tennis Day.

 

World Tennis Day is an ambitious ITF grassroots campaign aimed at popularizing tennis. The main event here in Hong Kong was the exhibition between John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl, followed by Agniezka Radwanska taking on Caroline Wozniacki. Still sidelined Li Na was originally slated to play, but World No. 4  Radwanska is an equaly matched replacement in rankings. The two close friends Waozniacki and Radwanska said in the pre-match news conference that they hadn’t had a chance to see the city. Shame that the media couldn’t get in their favorite shopping question!

 

As for the matches, they were fun, lighthearted, and an opportunity for the players to try some flashy shot making.  Old rivals Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe met on court again after 17 years, with Lendl leading their head-t0-head record 21-15. This time it was McEnroe who won the pro set match 8-5. As usual he’s good money for any exhibitions, throwing his famous tantrums, questioning line calls, complaining about bad ball bounces that got the crowd into the match. Lendl responded in kind and the two together showed off some volleys, passes, dropshots and huge forehands that earned oohs and ahhhs from the audience.

Radwanska versus Wozniacki had more intense rallies but the mood was equally flamboyant. The good friends were uninhibited when it came to trying out fancy shots. A long groundstrokes and volley exchange in practice mode drew huge applause, and the ladies offered great entertainment with their exchange, dancing and inviting an former Hong Kong  player to play. In the final game Wozniacki requested coaching from her dad. It turned out to be futile as Radwanska closed it out 6-4, 6-4.

 

Again it was all smiles at the post-match news conference. McEnroe joked that this was the most memorable match in his rivalry with Lendl, who said he hoped his pupil  Andy Murray didn’t watch this match as it was 3:30am in California. The ladies were happy to be in Hong Kong despite their short stay. So that wrapped up the Hong Kong leg of World Tennis Day’s BNP Paribas Showdown, only to be continued immediately with the activities in New York City!

This is an exhibition but it’s still interesting to hear what the ladies had to say about playing friends on court as this pretty much happens week in, week out. To this Wozniacki said, “once you’re on court it’s a fight, and you fight for your life basically, and then when you’re off the court you’re friends agains and probably an hour or two after the match you just want to cool down, but then it’s a toss.”

 

Radwanska agreed, “We’re good friends because I think we can separate our private life and tennis and when we go on court, we both focus and we both want to win and then we shake hands and we’re friends again. We’ve been friends for 15 years!”

 

Naturally there were a lot of questions for Lendl about coaching strategies for Andy Murray. In typical Lendl manner he kept it tight-lipped. “My job is to coach Andy not to assess him in public. If I have something we need to work on, or I think Andy needs to work on, we do that. I never discuss it with anyone other than Andy.”

 

World Tennis Day is about helping tennis reach a bigger audience so as to ultimately benefit the sport. On trying to find the next big thing in America, McEnroe said, “Everyone in America, as well as many other countries, are looking for that next great player and the more that the game becomes accessible to youngsters and hopefully sexy in the way for kids to want to play in America. I can’t speak for every country, but it’s not that affordable.”

 

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Radwanska Replaces an Injured Li Na in Hong Kong BNP Paribas Showdown

WTD_Logo

(February 27, 2013) HONG KONG – Wimbledon finalist and current World No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska has been announced to join the field March 4 at the BNP Paribas Showdown at Asia-World Arena in Hong Kong on World Tennis Day. Radwanska will play two-time year-end No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki following a men’s match featuring long-time rivals Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe.

 

Radwanska will replace China’s Li Na who has been forced to withdraw due to the ankle injury she sustained in last month’s Australian Open final.

 

“It is very unfortunate that Na has to pull out of the event and I know no one is more disappointed than she is, but I am very pleased to be able to welcome Agnieszka to the BNP Paribas Showdown line-up” said Jerry Solomon, Promoter of the BNP Paribas Showdown. “The very painful injury Na incurred in the final of the Australian Open last month has not responded enough to intense treatment.

 

“We send Na our best wishes for a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her next year but in the meantime we look forward to welcoming Agnieszka to Hong Kong for the Showdown.”

 

The Chinese star expressed her disappointment and said she would be back in Hong Kong to play the 2014 BNP Paribas Showdown.

 

“I am very sad to announce that I won’t be able to play in the BNP Showdown in Hong Kong,” said Li. “Unfortunately, the ankle injury I had in the Australian Open final is still not ready for me to compete. I know I have some of the best fans who live in Hong Kong and I was looking forward to playing for them. I promise I will be back next year.”

 

Radwanska owns 12 career titles, including wins already this season in Auckland and Sydney as well as a quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open.

 

“Li Na is a great ambassador for our sport in Asia and across the world so I’m very honored to be invited to Hong Kong to be her replacement,” Radwanska said. “We are both very evenly matched in the world rankings right now so I’m confident the standard of tennis will be just as high.

“Caroline and I are great friends but also long-standing rivals, so I expect a hard fought contest. I’m also looking forward to catching up with my Asian fans who are always good to me. I am really excited to get to Hong Kong and take part in the BNP Paribas Showdown.”

 

Wozniacki has a 5-4 edge in the nine career meetings between the two players, however Radwanska has won their last three matches, including earlier this month in the quarterfinals in Doha.

 

On the same night tennis legends and Hall of Famers John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl will rekindle their historic rivalry which will no doubt provide fans with plenty more thrilling tennis. Lendl won 21 of their 36 pro career meetings.

 

The BNP Paribas Showdown Hong Kong is the start of World Tennis Day, www.worldtennisday.com, which is held in conjunction with the International Tennis Federation to promote Tennis10s, which tailors the game to its youngest players with smaller racquets, lighter balls and modified scoring. The cornerstones of World Tennis Day are grassroots opportunities for young players to participate in the sport at the local level.

 

The HKTA will be hosting special clinics to introduce kids to the sport. Among the many nations participating in World Tennis Day are USA, Canada, Argentina, China P.R., Czech Republic and South Africa.

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Williams Stops Sharapova and Will Face Azarenka in Doha Final

2013 Australian Open - Day 8

(February 16, 2013) A day after moving up to world No. 1 Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the Qatar Open final. Williams extended her winning streak against the Russian to 10 straight. The American is 11-2 versus Sharapova.

“Maria is always playing really well and so consistent, but I’m trying to be consistent as well,” Williams said to the WTA website. “I love it here in Doha. I’ve never played this particular tournament but I’ve played in Doha before and had some good results, and I hope to have a good result in the final tomorrow, too.”

Williams will face Victoria Azarenka in the Doha final. Azarenka had no problems with Agnieszka Radwanska  stopping her 6-3, 6-3.

“I think it was a really high performance match from both of us,” Azarenka said to the WTA websaite. “It was a little bit shaky in the beginning – I think I did a little bit too many unforced errors and rushed a little bit into the rallies, but I started to be patient and more aggressive and dominant, really going for my shots when there was an opportunity, and taking advantage of every short ball she gave me. I’m glad I could turn it around.”

Williams holds a career 11-1 record versus Azarenka.

QATAR TOTAL OPEN
Doha, Qatar
February 11-17, 2013
$2,369,000/Premier
Hard/Outdoors

Results - Saturday, February 16, 2013
Singles – Semifinals
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 63 63
(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. (3) Maria Sharapova (RUS) 63 62

Doubles – Semifinals
(1) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. (6) Groenefeld/Peschke (GER/CZE) 16 76(3) 119 (Match TB)
(2) Petrova/Srebotnik (RUS/SLO) d. (3) Kops-Jones/Spears (USA/USA) 36 63 1210 (Match TB)

Order Of Play – Sunday, February 17, 2013
Centre Court (from 15.30hrs)
1. Doubles Final: Errani/Vinci vs. Petrova/Srebotnik
2. Singles Final: Victoria Azarenka vs. Serena Williams (NB 18.00hrs)

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Li Na Reaches Australian Open Semifinal After Defeating Radwanska

18ut0ydixnbpLiNafotoglifTennisPanorama

By Jaclyn Stacey

 

(January 22, 2013) MELBOURNE PARK, Australia - Li Na became the first player through to the Australian Open semifinals on Tuesday at Melbourne Park after she overcame fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5, 6-3.

 

The first set was a grueling 66 minute encounter in which the women exchanged seven breaks of serve between them. Li claimed the seventh break on set point to lead the encounter 7-5.

 

Li immediately went down a break in the second and Radwanska consolidated with a love game to lead 2-0. She fought back however, winning the next 5 games to lead 5-2 and closed out the match 7-5 6-3.

 

Prior to the match Radwanska had won 13 straight matches to start her 2013 season, including a straight sets win over Li in the semifinals of Sydney. Losing the first set of her quarterfinal seemed to rattle Radwanska and she was unable to stay in the first in the second set.

 

With the win Li returns to the top five in the WTA rankings. Her highest ranking has been a number four.

 

Li said it was a difficult match against a difficult opponent.

 

“You know, she’s a tough player. I was feeling today against a wall, you know. She can hit everywhere, but without a mistake. I was feeling just very tough. You have to focus on every shot. Not every point, every shot. If you hit like slow or like short one, she’ll attack.”

 

Li spoke about her tough off season training schedule with Justine Henin’s former coach Carlos Rodriguez who she has been working with since after Wimbledon last year.

 

“I was with Carlos for two and a half or three weeks in Beijing.  Totally different program, you know.”

 

“He was not – how you say – like every day five, six hours, but not only for tennis. Tennis like maybe two, three hours, but fitness for two, three hours as well.”

 

“So, like, when first time I was training with him I was so exciting, but after three days I was dying. Yeah, because my husband didn’t come with me in Beijing. I call him and say, Carlos is crazy. He was like, Why? I was say the program to him. He was like, Don’t make the joke. I say, Hey, listen, I’m not joke. I really doing this in the morning.”

 

On a potential semifinal clash with Maria Sharapova on Thursday Li said “She’s more aggressive player on the court. Also she’s tough. She’s fighting a lot. Should be tough match. So we can see Thursday, yeah.”

 

Jaclyn Stacey is a Melbourne based freelance journalist covering the Australian Open tournament as media for Tennis Panorama News.  Follow her Australian Open updates on @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal twitter @JackattackAU.

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Radwanska Cruises Past Ivanovic and Reaches Australian Open Quarterfinals

Radwanska bh

By Jaclyn Stacey

(January 20, 2013) MELBOURNE PARK, Australia – Agnieszka Radwanska won through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Sunday night, demolishing thirteenth seed Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-4 in just 70 minutes.

 

With the win, Radwanska extends her consecutive match winning streak to 13 in 2013, and she has yet to drop a set for the season thus far. She won the titles in Auckland and Sydney coming into the Australian Open.

 

“Well, what can I say? I’m just very happy that I can play on the very high level. Already 13 matches not even losing a set. Well, I hope I can keep going three more.”

 

Radwanska made her way to the Wimbledon final in 2012 and lost to Serena Williams but proved she could match it with the top women in the sport. Knowing that she has made a major final before has given her confidence to be able to do it this fortnight at Melbourne Park.

 

“Well, definitely. I think, you know, a major final is a little different final than any other tournament, so it definitely is.”

 

“Of course I have a lot more confidence after two titles that I won last two weeks, so definitely, yes.”

 

Radwanska will play China’s Li Na in the quarterfinals and Radwanska will be confident going into the encounter having beaten Li in Sydney just over a week ago. Li goes into the match leading their head-to-head 5-4 however, and on hard courts that lead stretches to 4-1.

 

“Well, we played so many times in the last couple months. Well, it’s never easy playing against her. She’s very consistent player and moving very well, serving well.”

 

“She’s always playing very solid tennis. I think I really have to play aggressive against her, definitely serving good, really playing my hundred percent the best tennis; otherwise I’m not going to win, for sure.”

 

“Well, for sure I really have to play my hundred percent to beat her.”

 

Jaclyn Stacey is a Melbourne based freelance journalist covering the Australian Open tournament as media for Tennis Panorama News.  Follow her Australian Open updates on @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal twitter @JackattackAU.

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Radwanska Rolls into Australian Open Round of 16

AndyRoddickFaceOff5

By Jaclyn Stacey

 

(January 18, 2013) MELBOURNE PARK,  Australia – Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska won through to the fourth round of the Australian Open defeating Britain’s Heather Watson 6-3, 6-1 in one hour and 24 minutes on day five at the Open.

 

The Pole has won 12 straight matches in 2013 after claiming the titles in Auckland and Sydney before winning her first three rounds at the Australian Open. She has also yet to drop a set this season.

 

Radwanska broke Watson in the fifth and seventh games of the first set to take a 5-2 lead. She was then broken by Watson while attempting to serve out the set and only managed to seal it 6-3 when she again broke Watson in the next game.

 

Watson was holding her own against Radwanska but the Pole played a great defensive game, continuously getting the ball back in play and wearing down her opponent into making the error.

 

After receiving medical treatment on a bleeding finger between sets, Radwanska stepped it up in the second set, allowing her opponent just one game on her way to victory 6-3 6-1.

 

“I think I was really solid from the beginning, trying to be focused. Especially in the beginning of the first set I was really tight, and I think that game when I was serving when it was 2-1, I think it was really important game.”

 

“I think then I start to play better, and of course in the second set I was trying to, you know, to start good as well and not to lose my focus.”

 

Radwanska puts her excellent form down to confidence and good preparation over the off season.

 

“Of course, I was practicing hard in the offseason, a lot of fitness. But just feeling good on court.  I’m very confident from the beginning and just happy that I can play really my best tennis from the beginning of the year.”

 

Radwanska will be looking to move past the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time and will play Ana Ivanovic who triumphed in the all Serbian encounter on Hisense Arena 7-5, 6-3.

 

Jaclyn Stacey is a Melbourne based freelance journalist covering the Australian Open tournament as media for Tennis Panorama News.  Follow her Australian Open updates on @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal twitter @JackattackAU.

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Radwanska Extends Win Streak to Eleven

AndyRoddickFaceOff5

(January 16, 2013) World No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska extended her 2013 unbeaten streak to 11 after completing a routine 6-3, 6-3 win over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu at the Australian Open on Wednesday in Melbourne.

”I’m very happy to be playing my best tennis at the start of  the year,” Radwanska said after winning the match.

”It’s always great to win in two sets.”

Radwanska impressed spectators by hitting a left-handed forehand as well as a between the legs shot, something she said she used to practice as a child.

The Polish woman has been on fire since the start of the year capturing Auckland and Sydney titles. She’ll play the winner of the Ksenia Pervak – Heather Watson in the third round.

Fifth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany also moved into to the third round holding back a first set challenge by Lucie Hradecka 6-3, 6-1 in 69 minutes.

“It was very hot today than the last match I played,“ said Kerber.  “(It)was not so windy out there.  But she’s a tough opponent, and you need to be ready for the whole match, because she’s playing the ball very hard and deep in the court.

“So I was just try moving very good and just play my game.  Yeah, I’m happy that I won the match in two sets.”

Keber will play either American wild card Madison Keys or Austria’s Tamira Paszek next.

Karen Pestaina for Tennis Panorama News

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Oz and Ends – Day One at the 2013 Australian Open

Melbourne park grounds

Oz and ends  and bits of news from the Australian Open for January 14, 2013

 

Bagels and breadsticks

Maria Sharapova won her first match of the Australian Open 6-0, 6-0 in 55 minutes over fellow Russian Olga Puchkova. It was her third career “double bagel” in a major tournament. She only needs a double bagel at Wimbledon to complete a “double bagel slam.”

Three women have completed the “double bagel slam” – they are Hall of Famers Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.

Venus Williams added to the bagel set count with a 6-1, 6-0 demolishing of Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva.

 

Win streak continues

Agnieszka Radwanska has extended her 2013 win streak to 10 by defeating Australian wild card entry Bojana Bobusic of 7-5, 6-0 on Monday.
Twitter News

Maria Sharapova has officially joined twitterverse. Follow her at @MariaSharapova

[tweet https://twitter.com/MariaSharapova/status/290778598774829058]

 

Tweets of the day

 

 

Lucky Loser is a winner
Tim Smyczek is lucky loser was a winner on Monday with a 6-4, 7-6, 7-5 victory over Ivo Karlovic. The American it into the draw thanks to housemate John Isner who pulled out of the tournament with a right knee injury.

 

Tough day for Aussies

Matthew Ebden, Ashleigh Barty, Olivia Rogowska, Sasha Jones,  John Millman, Lleyton, Hewitt and Casey Dellacqua all exited on day one of Australian Open. Sam Stosur was the only victorious Australian on Monday.

 

Two seeds falls

The 11th seed Juan Monaco was the only seeded played not to win on Monday. The Argentine who withdrew from last week’s Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament with a hand injury was clearly stuggling clearly struggling on the court in his straight set loss to Alex Kuznentsov, was applauded by spectators for not retiring from the match.

Monaco told Reuters: “My leg tightened up at the start of the second set and it was very tough for me,” pointing to his right leg.

On the women’s side Ksenia Pervak  stopped 32nd seed Mona Barthel 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.

Federer out of Davis Cup

Roger Federer will not participate in Switzerland’s first round Davis Cup tie versus the reigning champions, the Czech Republic

 

Five set marathons

[22] Fernando Verdasco def. David Goffin 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
[10] Nicolas Almagro def Steve Johnson 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2
Edouard Rogers-Vasselin def. Ruben Bemelmans 6-3, 6-7, 2-6, 7-5, 11-9
Daniel Gimeno-Traver def. Lukasz Kubot 6-7, 6-4, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4
[23] Mikhail Youzhny def. Matt Ebden 4-6, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-3
[28] Marcos Baghdatis def. Albert Ramos 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Roberto Bautista Agut def. Fabio Fognini 6-0, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
[31] Radek Stepanek def. Viktor Troicki 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5;
Brian Baker def. Alex Bogomolov 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 6-2.

 

Karen Pestaina for Tennis Panorama News

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Venus Williams Powers into Australian Open Second Round, Seeds Advance

Venus Williams Tennis Panroama 4102010

By Jaclyn Stacey

 

(January 14, 2013) MELBOURNE PARK, Australia – Venus Williams kicked off her Australian Open 2013 campaign in emphatic fashion, disposing of Kazakh Galina Voskoboeva 6-1, 6-0 in one hour on Hisense Arena at Melbourne Park on Monday.

 

This is the comeback Australian Open for Williams after being sidelined from the 2012 event while dealing with the diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome. She finished 2012 ranked no. 24 after starting the year outside of the top 100.

 

Voskoboeva won the opening service game of the match, sending down an ace on game point to lead the encounter 1-0. It would go on to be the only game she would win in a match that saw Williams completely dominate her opponent with her aggressive style of play.

 

Williams took advantage of a break point opportunity in the third game of the first set by coming into the net and producing a tight forehand volley which Voskoboeva could not reach.

 

Williams then won the next two games before experiencing some resistance while serving at 4-1 with Voskoboeva producing two confident forehand winners to force the game to go to deuce. She produced two opportunities to break but Williams saved both by utilizing her trademark powerful serve. She then sealed the game with an ace to lead 5-1.

 

Voskoboeva appeared to struggle with serving in the midday sun as Williams confidently broke Voskoboeva in the next game, sending a return forehand winner down the line to claim the first set 6-1.

 

With her opponent clearly frustrated and with younger sister Serena supporting from the sidelines, Williams had little trouble in the second set, steamrolling to a 6-1 6-0 victory.

 

“I mean, the stats looked good for me.  I haven’t seen them all yet, but I got a high first-serve percentage and more winners than errors, so that always makes a good match. I don’t think my opponent quite got the hang of — you know, it’s hard to play the first match in a major, first thing of the year, and that can be a lot of pressure. I did my best to just close it out.”

 

When asked to judge her performance today, Williams said “just continue to have depth on the balls. For me, I’m a net player; I like to get to the net. But the courts are a lot slower, so you have to be selective on how you get to the net, especially.  You know, the stronger players you play with, the more experience. And continuing to serve well always makes the match easier. So those are some of the big-picture things.”

 

Williams will play the winner of the match between France’s Alize Cornet and Marina Erakovic in the second round on Wednesday.

 http://youtu.be/0WoX9JV7g3k

In other day one women’s action, second seed Maria Sharapova denied her opponent a single game, bageling both sets to win 6-0, 6-0 against countrywoman Olga Puchkova and will play Misaki Doi in the second round before a potential third round clash with Venus Williams.

 

Australia’s main female hope Samantha Stosur battled her way to a two set victory against Kai-Chen Chang of Taipei in one hour and 42 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. With a 0-1 record against Chang and an opening round loss at Australian Open 2012, Stosur had a lot to prove in front of the home crowd. The first set ended in a tie-breaker after a tight first set in which the two swapped breaks on several occasions. Stosur prevailed in the tie break and claimed the first set 7-6(7-3). She closed out the match with a much easier second set 7-6(7-3) 6-3. She will next play the winner of the all Chinese match between Yuxuan Zhang and Jie Zheng.

 

2011 runner-up Li Na had a convincing win over Sesil Karantantcheva 6-1 6-3 in the first match on Margaret Court Arena today. She will play Olivia Govortsova on Wednesday and will go into the match with a 2-0 winning record over her opponent.

 

Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Australian open 2013 Wildcard play-off winner 7-5 6-0 and will play the winner of Arantxa Rus and Irina-Camelia Begu in the second round.

 

For updated women’s singles results, please visit AustralianOpen.com

Jaclyn Stacey is a Melbourne based freelance journalist covering the Australian Open tournament as media for Tennis Panorama News.  Follow her Australian Open updates on @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal twitter @JackattackAU.

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