Women's First Round Highlights

SI Staff | Sep 1, 2009

Women's First Round Highlights /

Women's First Round Highlights

Melanie Oudin

The 17-year-old American defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, 6-1, 6-2 for her first career victory at the Open.

Dinara Safina

Safina nearly made history as the first top-seeded woman at the Open to lose in the first round. But the Russian overcame 11 double faults and 48 unforced errors to rally past 167th-ranked Olivia Rogowska of Australia 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4.

Svetlana Kuznetsova

The 2004 Open champion cruised past Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-2. Kuznetova won nine of 11 games after a 3-3 start.

Venus Williams

Bothered by knee pain and distracted by a bevy of foot faults, the two-time Open champion escaped her first-round match after being down a set and a break. Williams overcame 54 unforced errors to slip past 47th-ranked Vera Dushevina 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3.

Kim Clijsters

Playing the first match on Day 1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 2005 champion rolled past Viktoriya Kutuzova 6-1, 6-1. The U.S. Open is Clijsters' third tournament back since she ended her two-year retirement.

Samantha Stosur

The 15th-seeded Stosur overcame 58 unforced errors to beat veteran Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Stosur also mixed in 44 winners (to Sugiyama's 12) in a match in which both players won 103 points.

Serena Williams

Williams opened defense of her Open crown with a 6-4, 6-1 victory against fellow American Alexa Glatch. Serena is trying to win her 12th career Grand Slam title and third this year.

Marion Bartoli

The 14th-seeded Bartoli made quick work of Rossana De Los Rios 6-1, 6-0. Bartoli faces Kim Clijsters in the second round.

Vera Zvonareva

Zvonareva, the seventh seed, lost only four games against Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams of the U.S. autographs tennis balls for fans after her match against countrywoman Alexa Glatch.

Amelie Mauresmo

Mauresmo broke serve five times in her 6-3, 6-4 victory against Tatjana Malek.

Published Sep 1, 2009

SI STAFF