Ivanovic defeats Razzano setting up meeting with Clijsters

Ana Ivanovic, supporting a rebuilt game, came through with flying colors Saturday against No. 79 ranked Virginie Razzano, winning in straight sets 7-5, 6-0.

Next up for unseeded Ivanovic in a Labor Day match is No. 2 seed, Kim Clijsters.

Ivanovic last played Clijsters at the start of August in the semi-finals in Cincinnati but Ivanovic was forced to retire with a foot injury just three games into the match.

Sharapova blows Capra away

No. 14 seed Maria Sharapova blew 18-year-old Beatrice Capra away today with a 6-0, 6-0 thumping.

What Sharapova’s excellent play didn’t blow away, the blustery conditions caused by the remnant of Hurricane Earl did. Capra was not able to duplicate the level she played at in her earlier wins over No. 95 Karolina Sprem and 18th-seeded Aravane Rezai.

Jankovic ousted by Kanepi

No. 4 seed, Jelena Jankovic once again lost her bid to win her first Grand Slam when she was defeated by No. 31 seed, Kaia Kanepi in round 3 at the 2010 U.S. Open.

Although Hurricane Earl didn’t bring much rain to the New York area, the remnants of the storm brought wind gusts of up to 33 mph that were playing havoc with the players — starting with Jankovic, who lost 6-2, 7-6 (1) to Kanepi.

Venus Williams reaches 4th round with easy win over Minella

Venus Williams of the USA cruised easily through her 3rd round match against Mandy Minella on Friday at the 2010 U.S. Open. It was the 12th time in 12 trips that Venus reached the 4th round at Flushing Meadows.

The No. 3 seeded Williams easily eliminated the 185th-ranked qualifier of Luxembourg 6-2, 6-1. She won 18 of 21 points at the net and finished with a 29-5 edge in winners. She will, however, have a more serious test in the fourth round against 16th-seeded Shahar Peer, who beat 19th-seeded Flavia Pennetta, 6-4, 6-4 in round 3.

Stosur and Dementieva advance to meet in 4th round

No. 5 seed, Samantha Stosur and No. 12 seed, Elena Dementieva both advanced with straight-sets wins and will meet in the 4th round of the 2010 U.S. Open.

Stosur of Australia breezed through quite easily over No. 37 ranked Sara Errani of Italy 6-2, 6-3. Stosur came close to losing her 1st round match against Elena Vesnina, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-1, but won easily in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Afterwards, Stosur said: “Really happy with that win. Since my first round I think I’ve played two really good matches now. Couldn’t ask for much more… to come through and have two matches the way I have, I’m really pleased.”

Clijsters advances to 3rd round over Peers

The defending champion, Kim Clijsters, continues her quest for a 3rd U.S. Open title after defeating Sally Peers 6-2, 6-1 in round 2 of the 2010 U.S. Open.

Clijsters of Belgium made 15 unforced errors in the first set before steadying herself to take the win over the No. 201 ranked Peers of Australia in 56 minutes. The 19-year-old Peers had to come through qualifying to gain entry to her first Grand Slam tournament.

Sharapova tramples Benesova in round 2 of U.S. Open

Maria Sharapova made quick work of her 2nd round match against Iveta Benesova, winning easily 6-1, 6-2.

Sharapova, the 14th seed, didn’t face a single break point in her demolition of 68th ranked Benesova of the Czech Republic. Benesova contributed 26 unforced errors to add to her own demise. Sharapova broke down Benesova’s defense with 16 winners, including three aces.

This sets up a 3rd round meeting between Sharapova and the young 18-year-old American, Beatrice Capra, ranked 371 in the world, who upset 18th seed Aravane Rezai 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 earlier today.

18-year-old Capra upsets 18th seed Rezai

Perhaps a new American sensation is spreading her wings as Beatrice Capra upset No. 18 seed Aravane Rezai in the 2010 U.S. Open tournament today.

Playing in her Grand Slam debut as a wild-card entry, Capra is the youngest player left in the women’s field and the lowest-ranked, at 371. It took three sets, but the young American from Ellicott City, Md. pulled it out 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

This is the first tour-level, main-draw event of Capra’s career. She knocked off 95th-ranked Karolina Sprem in the opening round 6-1, 6-3. Capra could face Maria Sharapova next.

Wozniacki crushes Chang in round 2

No. 1 seed, Caroline Wozniacki, served up a double bagel to Kai-Lung Chang in U.S. Open action today.

Wozniacki has lost only two games through the first two rounds. So far she has proven she deserves the No. 1 seeding.

Wozniacki is considered by many to be the favorite in the women’s draw this year, having lost in the final in last year’s U.S. Open. And the world No. 2 certainly showed few holes in her game against Chang, clinching a one-sided 6-0 6-0 victory.

Ivanovic upsets No. 21 seed, Zheng Jie

Unseeded Ana Ivanovic pulled an upset over No. 21 seed, Zheng Jie, in round 2 of the 2010 U.S. Open.

The former world No 1 from Serbia, who has dropped to 40th in the past year due to injuries and a loss of confidence, produced one of her recent best performances to crush Jie of China 6-3, 6-0 for a place in the last 32.

“I remember a couple years ago when I was here and I was saying, even though I’m No 1 I don’t feel I’m playing as No 1,” Ivanovic said. “But now I feel like I’m playing like a top-10 player, I have confidence that I can beat these players. That’s huge for me.”