STANFORD: Serena Williams put a worrying Wimbledon behind her, launching her build-up to the US Open with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Karolina Pliskova here on Wednesday.

The American world number one, playing for the first time since her third-round singles exit at Wimbledon was followed by a dramatic doubles retirement, showed no sign of illness or rust as she rolled to victory over the 45th-ranked Czech in 64 minutes.

After enjoying a first-round bye, the top seed punched her ticket to the quarter-finals of the WTA hardcourt tournament, where she’ll face the winner of the second-round match between former world number one Ana Ivanovic and Canadian qualifier Carol Zhao.

Wednesday’s results (x denotes seeding):

Second round: Serena Williams (US x1) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 7-5, 6-2; Andrea Petkovic (GER x8) bt Naomi Osaka (JPN) 6-2, 6-2; Sachia Vickery (US) bt Monica Puig (PUR) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-1; Varvara Lepchenko (US) bt Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x2) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Tuesday’s results:

First round: Garbine Muguruza (ESP) bt Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x6) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; Monica Puig (PUR) bt Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x7) 6-3, 7-5; Carol Zhao (CAN) bt Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 6-2, 1-0, retired; Ana Ivanovic (SRB x5) bt Sabine Lisicki (GER) 7-6 (7-2), 6-1; Venus Williams (US) bt Paula Kania (POL) 6-3, 6-2; Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) bt Paola Ormaechea (ARG) 6-3, 6-4.

Monday’s results:

First round: Sachia Vickery (US) bt Zhang Shuai (CHN) 6-1, 6-2; Karolina Pliskova (CZE) bt Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) 6-1, 6-3; Naomi Osaka (JPN) bt Samantha Stosur (AUS) 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5; Varvara Lepchenko (US) bt Caroline Garcia (FRA) 6-4, 6-3; Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) 6-1, 6-4.

BERDYCH MOVES AHEAD

WASHINGTON: Czech top seed Tomas Berdych won his second-round match at the ATP and WTA Washington Open here on Wednesday.

Berdych, seeking his 10th career ATP title and first on US soil, defeated US qualifier Robby Ginepri 6-1, 6-4 at the $1.9 million (1.4m euro) hardcourt tune-up for the US Open.

Wednesday’s results:

Men’s:

Second round: Kei Nishikori (JPN x4) bt Sam Querrey (US) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4; Victor Estrella Burgos (DOM) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP x8) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4; Donald Young (US) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-4, 6-3; Santiago Giraldo (COL) bt Benjamin Becker (GER) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3); Milos Raonic (CAN x2) bt Jack Sock (US) 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3); Steve Johnson (US) bt John Isner (US x5) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-6 (8-6); Tomas Berdych (CZE x1) bt Robby Ginepri (US) 6-1, 6-4; Richard Gasquet (FRA x6) bt Dudi Sela (ISR) 6-3, 6-2; Vasek Pospisil (CAN) bt Rajeev Ram (US) 6-0, 7-6 (10-8).

Women’s:

Second round: Kurumi Nara (JPN) bt Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 3-6, 6-2, 4-0 -- retired; Marina Erakovic (NZL) bt Shelby Rogers (US) 6-2, 6-2; Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) bt Taylor Townsend (US) 6-3, 6-4; Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROM x8) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Tuesday’s results:

Men’s:

Second round: Kevin Anderson (RSA x7) bt Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) 6-3, 6-4; Denis Istomin (UZB x15) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6); Lleyton Hewitt (AUS x14) bt Marinko Matosevic (AUS) 6-4, 6-3; Lukas Lacko (SVK) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE x16) 6-1, 6-4; Ivo Karlovic (CRO x9) bt Benoit Paire (FRA) 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (11-13), 7-6 (7-2); Malek Jaziri (TUN) bt Radek Stepanek (CZE x11) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1; Tim Smyczek (US) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA x12), 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-4.

First round: Sam Querrey (US) bt Michael Russell (US) 6-4, 6-3; Steve Johnson (US) bt James Duckworth (AUS) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4); Dudi Sela (ISR) bt Samuel Groth (AUS) 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-4; Jack Sock (US) bt Michael Berrer (GER) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4; Victor Estrella Burgos (DOM) bt Tobias Kamke (GER) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4); Benjamin Becker (GER) bt Blaz Kavcic (SLO) 6-3, 7-6 (9-7).

Women’s:

First round: Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE x1) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x2) bt Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 6-1, 6-1; Marina Erakovic (NZL) bt Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x5) bt Virginie Razzano (FRA) 6-2, 6-2; Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) bt Olivia Rogowska (AUS) 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 7-5; Christina McHale (US) bt Sloane Stephens (US x4) 6-4, 4-6, 6-0; Lauren Davis (US) bt Peng Shuai(CHN) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2; Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) bt Heather Watson (GBR) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3).

Monday’s results:

Men’s:

First round: Sam Querrey (US) bt Michael Russell (US) 6-4, 6-3; Steve Johnson (US) bt James Duckworth (AUS) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Women’s:

First round: Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE x1) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x2) bt Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 6-1, 6-1; Marina Erakovic (NZL) bt Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x5) bt Virginie Razzano (FRA) 6-2, 6-2.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014