Venus Williams Sets Up Kerber Clash with Victory over Mattek-Sands

By Chris Oddo and Erwin Ong

(August 28, 2012) -- Venus Williams overcame a slow start and eventually bulldozed fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3, 6-1 on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

The win sets up a highly anticipated second-round clash with sixth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany for Williams. The 32-year-old two-time US Open champion, fresh off her first semifinal of the season in Cincinnati, gave the thumbs up when asked about the back injury that plagued her in her semifinal loss against Li Na in that event.

"I can't complain," said Venus. "I'm feeling great. I'm happy that I'm here in the next round -- it's awesome."

Venus's tidy numbers against Mattek-Sands today are exactly the type of numbers that she'll be looking for in her next match against Kerber, who is arguably the most improved player on the WTA Tour this year.

"I need to put a lot of balls in the court and just execute my game well," said Williams when asked on court by Darren Cahill what she would need to do to contend with Kerber.

She did just that today, hitting 22 winners against 13 unforced errors in windy conditions on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

After falling behind 2-0 early, Williams was never threatened again in this match. She didn't face another break point and ended up winning 19 of 23 first serve points on the day.

"I was really happy with my serve today," said Williams, "especially with all this wind, to be able to put a lot of first serves in and have some easy games on my serve helped a lot."

Venus will face a confident-yet-loose Kerber, who spoke of her return to the site of her breakout semifinal appearance in a major -- this tournament last year. "I am one of the great players [in the WTA tour] right now," shared the German about her chances at the event. "I am feeling good, playing good."

Kerber dispatched of Great Britain's Anne Keothavong 6-2, 6-0 and with no signs of the wear-and-tear that caused her to withdraw from last week's Texas Tennis Open in Dallas. The rest did her well and she's ready to face the elder Williams. "I am the favorite [on paper] but for me she is the favorite. I will go out there having fun, nothing to lose."

Radwanska Breezes in Opener

Concerns about the shoulder injury that forced second seed Agnieszka Radwanska out of action last week in New Haven were somewhat allayed on Tuesday, as the Wimbledon finalist and No. 2 seed raced to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Nina Bratchikova of Russia in the day's first match on Arthur Ashe.

"Well, you know, it's sometimes worse, but it feels better right now," said Radwanska of the shoulder soreness that has bothered her for much of this summer. "That's about it."

Radwanska, who hasn't been past the second round of the US Open since 2008, will face Carla Suarez Navarro in the second round. "I think we didn't play, well, for a long time against each other," said Radwanska of her upcoming date with the Spaniard. "It was long time ago. It's always another challenge. For sure she's playing different tennis than my first opponent. I think now I will have to be prepared for more spin."

The always sure-handed 23-year-old hit 15 winners against only 6 unforced errors today, and saved 4 of 5 break points.

Elsewhere:

12th-seeded Ana Ivanovic advanced with a straight-set win over Elina Svitolina of Russia, 6-3, 6-2, while compatriot 30th-seeded Jelena Jankovic also won, defeating Kateryna Bondarenko, 6-1, 6-1... 6th-seeded Angelique Kerber blasted past Anne Keothavong of Great Britain 6-2, 6-0...13th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova stormed back from a set down to defeat Johanna Larsson of Sweden 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-0...Yaroslava Shvedova defeated her longtime doubles partner Vania King 6-4, 6-2...20th-seeded Roberta Vinci crushed Agnieszka's little sister Urszula Radwanska 6-1, 6-1.