MIAMI, FL, USA - One of the Sony Ericsson Open's all-time greatest successes made their first appearance of the tournament Thursday night; and despite a poor start, Venus Williams managed to win in straight sets as first round action continued at the $3.45-million event. Indian Wells standout Sybille Bammer wasn't so fortunate.
The beginnings of the match-up between Williams and Yuliana Fedak went largely in the Ukrainian's favor. After holding in the opening game and breaking Williams in a 14-point second game, she quickly reeled off two more games to go ahead 4-0. It was at that juncture, however, that the American found her game; she won seven of the next eight games to take the first set and cruised through the second in 28 minutes.
"At 4-0 I was thinking hold, break, hold, it's even," Williams commented. "I felt really confident. I didn't feel it was a set for me to lose - it was definitely a set I could win, just keep some balls in."
Williams holds one of the most impressive win-loss records in the event's history, improving to 34-5 with Thursday's win. She is a three-time champion, in 1998, 1999 and 2001, as well as a two-time semifinalist, in 2002 and 2005. Last year she was not able to compete due to injury. She is now 6-0 on the season, having come back from another lengthy injury lay-off in February to take home her 34th Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title in Memphis, defeating Shahar Peer in the final.
Last week's Pacific Life Open semifinalist, Bammer, had quite the opposite result in her first round match. The Austrian cruised through her first set but France's Emilie Loit pulled off the comeback this time, rallying for a 26 63 61 win. It is Loit's second win in two meetings with Bammer, having also prevailed at Rabat two years ago. The Frenchwoman recently won her third and biggest career title at the Tier III clay court event in Acapulco.
Other players winning first round matches were Agnieszka Radwanska, Chan Yung-Jan, Michaella Krajicek, Kaia Kanepi, Ashley Harkleroad, Jelena Kostanic Tosic, and four qualifiers, namely Anastassia Rodionova, Yaroslava Shvedova, Kateryna Bondarenko and Iveta Benesova.
Four first round matches were postponed to Friday, due to rain earlier in the day.
The bottom half of the draw, which includes No.2 seed Justine Henin and No.4 seed Kim Clijsters, begins the second round Friday. (WTA)
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