Pennetta, Williams advance in Acapulco

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:20

The second-seeded Italian improved to 25-4 lifetime at the event and set up a tie with unseeded France`s Pauline Parmentier in the second round.

Meanwhile Venus Williams rallied for a three-set victory over Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives, beating her opponent 6-4 4-6 6-2.

The top seed, playing in her first match since winning the 40th title of her career Saturday in Dubai, set up a second-round meeting with Hungarian qualifier Greta Arn, a 6-2 6-3 winner over Romania’s Edina Gallovits.

Other contenders in Williams’ half of the draw are fifth-seeded Gisela Dulko of Argentina and third seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, who both advanced.

Dulko, a 6-3 6-2 winner over Romanian qualifier Ioana Raluca Olaru in the opening round, advanced to face Estonia’s Maret Ani, who escaped with a 4-6 7-6 (7/1) 6-4 victory over Austrian Patricia Mayr.

Suarez Navarro cruised to a 7-5 6-3 triumph over qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova of the Ukraine, and will face Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova who was a 2-6 6-1 6-4 winner against Slovenia’s Andreja Klepac.

In Pennetta`s side of the draw Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez opened play with a 6-2 6-3 victory over fellow Spaniard Arantxa Parra Santonja.

In other matches, Agnes Szavay of Hungary edged Belarus’ Anna Orlik 7-5 7-5, while Frenchwoman Mathilde Johansson claimed a 6-4 6-1 victory over Rossana de los Rios of Paraguay.

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