02/09/2010 09:31 CEST - US Open
Stosur impresses on Day 3
Fifth seed Samantha Stosur cruised into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday after easily accounting for countrywoman Anastasia Rodionova. Sally Peers’ surprise run was ended by defending champion Kim Clijsters. Mark Skendaris
In a mixed day for the Australians at Flushing Meadows in New York, Samantha Stosur has progressed to the third round for the first time while three others were sent packing.
Stosur, the world No. 6, breezed past Anastasia Rodionova 6-1, 6-4 to book a date with Sara Errani. The unseeded Italian took out Russian 28th seed Alisa Kleybanova in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.
The French Open finalist asserted her dominance from the outset against Rodionova with a break in the fourth game before breaking again in sixth game to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
She served out the set with ease and carried her momentum into the second with a break in the opening game.
Rodionova, currently ranked 62nd, battled hard and forced Stosur to serve out the match, but she had no problems and comfortably did with her eighth ace. The Queenslander has now made the last 32 for the first time in New York in her seventh appearance.
Kim Clijsters, the 2009 winner, ended Sally Peers' tournament with a 6-2, 6-1 second-round victory over the Melbourne teenager on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
After three qualifying wins and a promising first-round victory, Peers was no match for the world No. 3. She was unable to hold her serve as the Belgian raced through the first set in just 32 minutes.
The Aussie finally held serve in the second set but it was the only game she won as Clijsters sealed the win in just under an hour. Her next opponent will be Wimbledon semi-finalist Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.
Australian No.2 Peter Luczak earlier fell 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 in his men's first-round match against Sergiy Stakhovsky. The Ukrainian also beat the Victorian last week in New Haven before going on to win the title.
Mark Skendaris
"It was nice, I mean, except that 99.9 percent of the people were against me."
Sergiy Stakhovsky, on the atmosphere for his match on the Grandstand against Ryan Harrison.
September the 4th, 1959
Sixteen-year-old Arthur Ashe makes his debut at the U.S. Championships and loses to 21-year-old Rod Laver, 6-2 7-5 6-2, in the first round.
From "On this day in Tennis History" by Randy Walker
