Petrova, Serb Seeds Ease through at WTA Linz

Petrova, seeded No.2 at the Tier II event, dominated the Israeli teen in just about every department, winning three quarters of the points on her serve, and nearly two thirds of those on the return. She never even faced a break point, and out-aced her big-hitting opponent, 7-1. The Russian just ran away with the victory against a young player that has given the Top 10 fits this season, closing it out in just 52 minutes.

"Before I came on court, I thought it was going to be tough; I decided to keep it as short as I could by trying to put pressure on her," Petrova said afterwards. "In the middle of the second set she changed her tactic with loopy balls to break the rhythm, but that was just perfect -- I took them and gave those heavy balls back. I pushed her and attacked the forehand and she started to miss from that side.

"When she shook my hand, she told me she didn't expect me to play that well."

Only Justine Henin-Hardenne has won as many titles this year as Petrova, who has taken in trophies at Doha, Amelia Island, Charleston, Berlin and Stuttgart. Coming into this event a year ago, she was the only one of the game's 10 best sans-title; but she finally got on the board at the end of the week, after a three set championship win over Patty Schnyder.

The Russian says this surface is tailored to her aggressive game.

"I don't feel I did anything spectacular; I just tried to play clean tennis, take the opportunities, keep points short and come in from time to time. This surface suits my game. You can press somebody here by coming up to the net and hitting the heavy shots I have, and my service is also very effective here."

Petrova's was the first of two second round matches on Wednesday's schedule. Vaidisova, the No.4 seed, played hers later in the day, surviving a tight opening set but demolishing unseeded Mara Santangelo in the second for a 76(4) 60 win.

Vaidisova has had somewhat of an up-and-down post-US Open season, compiling a sensational run to the Moscow semifinals two weeks ago, but dropping opening matches in her other two appearances. In the Russian capital, she notched her second win over Amelie Mauresmo this season en route to the final four, where she lost in a three set marathon to Petrova; but she lost her opening matches at Beijing (to Ai Sugiyama) and Zurich (to Tatiana Golovin). Vaidisova is Petrova's projected semifinal opponent this week.

Serbian stars among first round winners

In addition to the aforementioned second round matches, the last four first round matches took the court on Wednesday, and young Serbs Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic emerged winners.

Ivanovic, seeded No.5 this week, made a solid return from injury with a 61 76(2) win over Michaella Krajicek. The 18-year-old has struggled since a breakthrough summer, which saw her capture her second and biggest career title at the Tier I Rogers Cup, then subsequently break into the Top 15 after the US Open; she hadn't won a match since, suffering first round losses at Bali and Luxembourg before withdrawing from Stuttgart and Zurich with right shoulder tendonitis.

But she looked to be back in form against Krajicek on Wednesday.

"I played a pretty good match," she said. "I was a little nervous at the beginning, because I haven't played for a bit; but I felt the difference in the match was my return. She serves well but I was moving into the court; that made a difference."

Ivanovic's compatriot Jankovic, the No.6 seed, had a more difficult time but also managed to make it through a tricky opening round, ousting home crowd favorite Sybille Bammer, 61 67(3) 63, in just over two hours. The 21-year-old Serb blew through the first set only to face resistance from the Austrian's crafty game in the second; she regrouped in the third to notch her 41st win in her last 56 matches.

A pair of qualifiers grabbed the last two first round wins. Eleni Daniilidou ousted injury-returned Chanda Rubin, 61 62, to set up a second round clash with top-seeded Maria Sharapova; and Elena Vesnina advanced when Daniela Hantuchova retired at 4-3 in the first set due to a right rib injury suffered at Z?last week.

The six remaining second round matches will all be played Thursday, highlighted by the aforementioned clash between Sharapova and Daniilidou. No.3 seed Patty Schnyder kicks off her week against Nathalie Dechy in the feature night match.
-- WTA