Kuznetsova, Peer move on

Toronto, August 15:

Former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova struggled to beat Italy’s Roberta Vinci 6-2, 7-6 (7) before reaching the Rogers Cup third round on Tuesday.

Israel’s Shahar Peer moved into the third round beating Italy’s Tathiana Garbin 6-3, 6-2. Peer was joined in the third round by China’s Peng Shuai, who was leading 14th-seeded Katarina Srebotnik 6-1, 4-2 when the Slovenian retired.

In first-round play, Stephanie Dubois upset Ai Sugiyama of Japan 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5 and a second Canadian advanced when Aleksandra Wozniak was the beneficiary of Anastasia Rodionova’s left thigh strain. Wozniak was leading 6-4, 5-0.

In all, three Canadians advance after Marie-Eve Pelletier defeated countrywoman Ekaterina Shulaeva 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. A pair of French players also advanced, with Nathalie Dechy ousting Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland 6-4, 7-5, and Virginie Razzano beating Aravane Rezai, also of France, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Also winning were Maria Kirilenko, Eleni Daniilidou, Maria Elena, Sybille Bammer and Andreja Klepac.

Cincinnati Masters

MASON: Andy Roddick set up a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory over Fernando Verdasco in his first match at the Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday.

Ninth-seeded James Blake beat Alejandro Falla 7-6 (5), 6-1, and Juan Martin Del Potro defeated 15th-seeded Guillermo Canas 6-2, 6-2 in the first meeting between the Argentines. Mario Ancic ousted 15th-seeded Tommy Haas 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3. Jarkko Nieminen beat seventh-seeded Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-1.

Two-time runner-up Lleyton Hewitt beat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (5). Britain’s Andy Murray became the first seeded player to lose in the tournament. The 14th-seeded Murray lost 1-6, 2-6 to Marcos Baghdatis.