Azarenka, Ivanovic Cruise Into Second Round In Luxembourg

By: James Waterson

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

(October 19, 2011) Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka advanced to the second round of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open when she beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4 Wednesday.

Despite the relatively one-sided score, it took Azarenka one hour and 30 minutes to defeat her 44th-ranked competitor.

The Belorussian broke Strycova five times while she dropped serve once in each set.

Azarenka moves on to face 73rd-ranked Alberta Brianti, who beat Anna Tatishvili of Georgia Tuesday.

Fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic won her opening match as well, when she defeated Virginie Razzano 7-6 (2), 6-4, Romania’s Simona Halep beat Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-4, 7-5, and Bibiane Schoofs of the Netherlands upset US Open semifinalist Angelique Kerber 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Flavia Pennetta, the fourth seed, fell out of the tournament when lost to 107th-ranked Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-3, 6-2.

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