By Robert Martin                                  Photo Credit: Tony Chang

(August 27, 2011) Looking to continue her rise in the rankings, Sabine Lisicki easily dismissed France’s Aravane Rezai 6-2, 6-1 in the first Texas Tennis Open near Dallas, Texas. After not playing in Canada due to her ranking at the time of direct entry and a first-round loss to Shahar Peer last week, Lisicki rebounded well in preparation for the US Open starting Monday.

While New Haven was dealing with rain delays, Lisicki had to only deal with the heat of the Texas Summer as she used her powerful serve and penetrating ground strokes to dictate play against Rezai. Despite serving at only 53 percent for the match, Lisicki lost only six points on her own serve, while winning 52 percent of points on her return as well.

Rezai was in trouble early and often, being broken four times in five chances, winning only eight of 23 points when she had to hit a second serve. The last time these two played was at the 2009 US Open, where Lisicki needed three sets to prevail.

Much has changed in those two years, which has seen Rezai’s ranking plummet from No. 25 to No. 114, as well as Lisicki’s well known injury and rankings climb this year to her current position of World No. 23.

With the US Open starting in two days, Lisicki will prepare for a match against Alona Bondarenko, while Rezai drew the 26-seed, Flavia Pennetta.