Sport
Serena Williams rallies and wins opening match at Sony Open 7-6 (7), 6-2
Serena Williams in action Yaroslava Shvedova at the Sony Open Tournament, March 20, 2014. Williams won 7-6 (7), 6-2. PHOTO/Alan Diaz/AP
WTA No.1 Serena Williams won her opening match at the Sony Open Tournament, in Key Biscayne, Florida against Yaroslava Shvedova.
Williams capitalized on a critical double-fault by Shvedova to survive a 69-minute first set and win, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
“It was an incredibly tough first set,” Williams said. “I just needed to relax and yet keep up the intensity.”
The top-ranked Williams seeks a record seventh Key Biscayne title, and her second in a row.
No. 4-seeded Maria Sharapova, a five-time runner-up in the tournament, joined Williams in the third round by beating Kurumi Nara 6-3, 6-4. Seeded players had first-round byes.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press