Seven-time Grand Slam Champion Venus Williams powered into the third round of the WTA clay court tournament at Charleston with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Alison Riske.
Seven-time Grand Slam Champion Venus Williams powered into the third round of the WTA clay court tournament at Charleston with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Alison Riske.
Venus, seeded third and seeking a 50th career WTA title this week, fired 20 winners, displaying a sharp service game in a match lasting less than 90 minutes.
Things didn’t go so well on the green clay of Charleston for second-seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic, beaten 1-6, 1-6 by Russian Elena Vesnina.
Bencic, the world number 10, appeared to be struggling with the same back trouble that forced her out of her opening match in Miami.
Vesnina took full advantage, advancing in just 56 minutes.
She’ll next face Lourdes Dominguez, who reached the third round when Canadian Eugenie Bouchard retired with an abdominal injury.
Spain’s Dominguez was leading 6-4, 1-6, 1-0 when Bouchard decided she couldn’t continue.
Venus’ win was relatively straightforward, although the 35-year-old coming off opening match defeats at Indian Wells and Miami said it “wasn’t easy.” “I think experience definitely helped,” said Venus, who won the Charleston title in 2004.
