Russian second seed Nadia Petrova eased into the second round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over compatriot Galina Voskoboeva. The 26-year-old Muscovite surrendered just 12 points on serve and capitalized on six of 11 break points to secure her 22nd victory (22-16 record) of the season.
World No. 21 Petrova has reached the quarterfinals or better at four WTA events this season, highlighted by finishing as runner-up at the Tier II event in Eastbourne (l. to A. Radwanska) and a quarterfinal exit at Wimbledon (l. to No. 5 Dementieva).
Fifth-seeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo came through a challenging first round match against compatriot Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, coming back to post the 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-1 win in two hours and 37 minutes. Mauresmo went a perfect 3 for 3 on her break point chances in the decisive set.
The 29-year-old former World No. 1 is making her Cincinnati debut this week, and enters with a No. 35 ranking. She is making her first appearance since a third round loss at Wimbledon (l. to Williams) and improves to a 21-11 season record. She will look to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since April at Amelie Island when she faces Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 winner over Russian Vasilisa Bardina.
Sixth-seeded Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak enjoyed smooth progress, converting six of eight break points as she defeated Japan’s Aiko Nakamura 6-3, 6-2 in just 59 minutes.
The 20-year-old Wozniak is currently placed a career-high No. 39 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings, having recently captured her maiden WTA Tour title at the Tier II event in Stanford, defeating Serena Williams (retired 2-6, 1-3) in the semifinals before beating Marion Bartoli in the title match. The Blainville resident improves to 26-15 for the season.
Wozniak next will face Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko, who edged past Romanian Monica Niculescu 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
Home favorite Vania King advanced to the second round with a hard fought 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Italian Tathiana Garbin. The 19-year-old California native improves to 11-19 for the season and goes on to face top wild card compatriot Jamea Jackson, who led top seed Marion Bartoli 7-6(5), 2-2 when the Frenchwoman retired with an abdominal injury.