Kvitova, Azarenka ease into Round 3

Madrid, May 2

World No. 5 Victoria Azarenka extended her winning streak to 16 matches with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over France’s Alize Cornet to reach the third round of the Madrid Open on Monday.

The Belarussian clinched her last two tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami and is the favourite to land her first title in Madrid in the absence of world No. 1 Serena Williams due to flu.

Azarenka will face American qualifier Louisa Chirico, who stunned 14th seed Ana Ivanovic 5-7 6-1 6-3, in the third round.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova remained on course for a quarterfinal showdown with Azarenka with a 6-3 6-3 win over Russian Elena Vesnina.

Kvitova faces Australian Daria Gavrilova in Round 3 after she ousted 12th seed Elina Svitolina 6-2 7-6(4).

Radwanska out

Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska crashed out in the first round.

Poland’s Radwanska, the number one seed in the absence of Williams, lost 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3 to the rejuvenated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.

In the men’s section, Milos Raonic, Gilles Simon and Feliciano Lopez entered the second round. — AFP