The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Venus Williams clears first hurdle

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Saturday, Mar 24, 2007
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Venus Williams clears first hurdle

KEY BISCAYNE: In her first match in a month, Venus Williams dropped the first four games before rallying to beat Yuliana Fedak 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open on Thursday.

Rain curtailed the schedule, and gusty wind made for some sloppy rallies. Unforced errors plagued Williams early, and she fell behind 4-0 in 15 minutes before charging back.

``Definitely a really interesting day,'' Williams said. ``Even though I got down, I didn't feel I was going to lose. I just needed to find my timing.' She had 28 winners to two for Ukraine's Fedak. Slowed by injuries, Williams is unseeded and playing in only her third tournament since July. She won in Memphis in February for her 34th career title, and first since Wimbledon in 2005.

Querrey beats Andreev

In men's play, 19-year-old American Sam Querrey beat Russia's Igor Andreev 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 and will face two-time defending champion Roger Federer on Saturday.

``I have nothing to lose,'' the 1.98-meter (6-foot-6) Querrey said.

Guillermo Canas, who ended Roger Federer's 41-match winning streak on March 11 at Indian Wells, beat Tim Henman 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Former finalist Sebastien Grosjean won for the first time since the Australian Open when he defeated Martin Verkerk 6-3, 6-4.

Grosjean's struggle and decline in the rankings was evident when he wasn't seeded at Key Biscayne for the first time since 1999, when he reached the final and lost to Richard Krajicek.

His third win of the year set him up against Richard Gasquet, who replaced Grosjean as France's No. 1 player in 2005. Grosjean won their only previous encounter at the 2005 Montreal Masters.

Spadea advances

Vince Spadea won his opening match in Key Biscayne for the 12th time in 13 visits by beating fellow American Robby Ginepri 6-1, 6-3.Spadea has beaten three top-10 players in Key Biscayne while achieving one semifinal and another quarterfinal, and he'll next face world No. 11 David Nalbandian, whom he has not beaten.

In other women's matches, Acapulco champion Emilie Loit came from behind to beat Pattaya City winner Sybille Bammer 2-6, 6-3, 6-1, 17-year-old Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan downed Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain 6-2, 6-3 to earn a second-round match against top-seeded Maria Sharapova, and Michaella Krajicek put away wild card Anna Tatishvili 6-3, 7-6 (2).

The results: Samuel Querrey bt Igor Andreev 5-7, 6-2, 6-4; Potito Starace bt Alex Kuznetsov 6-4, 7-6(4); Guillermo Canas bt Tim Henman 3-6, 6-2, 6-1; Sebastien Grosjean (Fra) bt Martin Verkerk (Ned) 6-3, 6-4; Florian Mayer bt Igor Kunitsyn 6-1, 6-0; Kevin Kim bt Benjamin Becker 6-4, 3-6, 6-2; Simon Greul bt Danai Udomchoke 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-3; Amer Delic bt Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-4; Vincent Spadea bt Robby Ginepri 6-1, 6-3; Evgeny Korolev bt Marc Gicquel 6-4, 6-2.

Women: Yung-Jan Chan bt Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-2, 6-3; Venus Williams bt Juliana Fedak 7-5, 6-2; Emilie Loit bt Sybille Bammer 2-6, 6-3, 6-1; Anastassia Rodionova bt Elena Likhovtseva 7-5, 6-4; Kaia Kanepi bt Tzvetana Pironkova 6-4, 6-4; Michaella Krajicek bt Anna Tatishvili 6-3, 7-6(2); Katerina Bondarenko bt Aiko Nakamura 6-2, 0-6, 6-1; Jelena Kostanic Tosic bt Varvara Lepchenko 6-3, 6-3; Yaroslava Shvedova bt Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 6-1; Ashley Harkleroad bt Lauren Albanese 6-4, 6-2; Agnieska Radwanska bt Shenay Perry 6-2, 6-1; Iveta Benesova bt Gisela Dulko 6-3, 6-3.

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