Serena and Kvitova Prevent Monday Blues with Madrid Wins

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: Daniel Ochoa De Olza/AP

(May 7th, 2012) For Serena Williams, it doesn't matter what color the court is, as long as she steps off of it a winner.

Williams, who cruised to a commanding title run in her previous WTA event last month in Charleston, looked at home on the blue courts of the Mutua Madrid Open when she faced off against Russia's Elena Vesnina in her opening round match. In fact, it might have felt like deja vu for both women as the last time they met was in the second round in Charleston.

It was a near-repeat performance of that night down in South Carolina as Williams blasted down 14 aces and never faced a break point as she went on to cruise to a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Afterwards, Williams talk about her performance that included her singing to Bryan Adams's song "Everything I Do" that played as she collected her things after the match.

"I’m feeling good but I wasn’t thrilled. It’s just the first round. I am a competitor and I want to do my best that I can do every time I step out there, whether that’s playing well and losing, at least I know I can improve from that."

Serena might not have the vocal chops to be a professional singer, but she enjoys performing on a court for fans everywhere she goes.

"I love playing tennis," Williams said. "I love being here. I love walking out on the court and having people come and see me and my opponent play. That's a thrill you can't get anywhere else. Maybe if I were a rock star, but I don't have the voice, so that's not going to happen. It's just really cool that I have a talent and people come to watch - to me it's the ultimate compliment."

However Serena's sister, Venus Williams, probably got a taste of the Monday blues as she was defeated in her second round match against Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-1 with the German serving at 74% and only broken once for the match. Kerber is now poised to become Germany's highest ranked player, male or female, after her week ends in Madrid.

Kerber will next face China's Li Na who easily saw off Spain's Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-3, 6-1.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova also looked comfortable on the new blue courts as she faced off against Marina Erakovic. After taking the first set, Kvitova appeared on cruise control in the second set until she got down 0-40 on her service game at 4-3. But the Wimbledon champion then proceeded to win 10 of the last 12 points to close out a 6-2, 6-3, win.

No. 5 seed Sam Stosur fought off an early charge from young American Christina McHale before rallying late in the night to complete a 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 win.

No. 15 seed Jelena Jankovic found herself making an early exit from Madrid as she went down to Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.