Serena Williams tops Rezai in first match in almost a year

After not playing for almost a year, Serena Williams of the USA won her first match at Wimbledon over France’s Aravane Rezai in a hard fought 3-setter, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, closing it out with her 13th ace.

Serena had been off the court for almost a year, first because of a cut tendon in her foot after stepping on broken glass in a restaurant, then by a blood clot in her lungs.

Serena fought through a midmatch slump, then reasserted command over her French opponent in the third set with a big serve and powerful groundstrokes. She showed why she is still considered a title favorite despite her long absence and her No. 7 seeding.

Sharapova advances over Rezai at Indian Wells

No. 16 seed, Maria Sharapova advanced to the fourth round of the 2011 WTA BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells with an easy, straight sets win over No. 20 seed, Aravane Rezai of France, 6-2, 6-2.

Rezai was celebrating her 24th birthday, and was hoping for a win to cap it off, but it wasn’t to be. In just 73 minutes, Sharapova had put a damper on the birthday-girl’s hopes.

It took Sharapova a few games to get used to Rezai’s pace, but once she did, there was no stopping her. She benefited from her opponent’s missteps, but also played much better than in her last match, a three-set battle with Anabel Medina Garrigues.

Sharapova loses in first round of Pan Pacific Open

No. 15 ranked Maria Sharapova of Russia was sent packing today by No. 67 ranked wildcard Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan in the first round of the 2010 Pan Pacific Open being played in Tokyo, Japan.

The 23-year-old Maria was the defending champion of this tournament, but was shown the exit door by a local resident and all-time Japanese # 1 Kimiko who turns 40 tomorrow.

Long-time Japanese crowd favorite Kimiko stunned the former world No. 1 Maria 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Kimiko advanced in 2 hours, 9 minutes, as Maria, still struggling with her serve, piled up 11 double faults and had her big serve broken five times.

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.

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.

Seeded players Kuznetsova, Hantuchova, Shvedova, Peer, Rezai, Oudin, and Jie fall in 2nd round at Wimbledon

Shahar Peer of Israel was the highest seed to be eliminated in the 2nd round at Wimbledon 2010. The 13th seeded Shahar lost to No. 54 ranked Angelique Kerber of Germany 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

It was a round that saw many seeded players fall to much lower ranked players. Some of the higher seeds included No. 18 seed, Aravane Rezai of France, who lost to No. 66 ranked Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, and No. 19 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, who was defeated by countrywoman Anastasia Rodionova 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Wozniacki, Schiavone, Radwanska and Pennetta among upsets at the 2010 AEGON International

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark was among the early upsets at the 2010 WTA AEGON International being played June 14-20 in Eastbourne, England. The No. 1 seed was defeated in the 1st round by Aravane Rezai of France 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

The Wimbledon warmup claimed other top seeds in the 1st round, including No. 2 seed and 2010 French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone of Italy who was eliminated by Sorana Cirstea of Romania 7-5, 6-3.

It appears the warmup is getting the unseeded players more warmed up than the top seeds. It could be an interesting Wimbledon. Warm up your TV sets by Monday, because here we go!

Rezai claims championship over Venus Williams

Aravane Rezai of France won the biggest title of her career by defeating Venus Williams of the USA 6-2, 7-5 in the 2010 WTA Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open.

It was unseeded Rezai, last year’s champion at Strasbourg and Bali taking on 4th seed Williams, this year’s champ in Dubai and Acapulco in the Final. Rezai put down the former world No. 1 in what she described as the best week of her career.

Aravane Rezai reaches Madrid Final with win over Safarova

Unseeded Aravane Rezai of France will meet Venus Williams of the USA in the Final of the 2010 WTA Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open after defeating Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic. The match against Safarova ended after just one set which Rezai won convincingly, 6-1. Safarova could no longer continue due to a left thigh injury and retired from the match.

That was not the way Rezai would have chosen to win the match, but it placed her in the final. She should be well rested and ready to play when she faces Williams in the Final.