Madrid, May 8: Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova beat Czech opponents to reach the third round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday.
The women's top two overcame dips in concentration to put away mistake-prone opponents. Azarenka held off Andrea Hlavackova's challenge to win 6-3, 7-6 (2) after Sharapova beat Klara Zakopalova 6-4, 6-3.
Azarenka has already won four titles this year, including the Australian Open, but showed less convincing form on the Magic Box's blue clay.
"I felt like a lost a little bit of my concentration," Azaranka said. "I didn't adjust well to some of the obstacles that happened but I'm glad that I could turn it around pretty quickly and finish the match in my favor."
Azarenka plays Ana Ivanovic in the third round after the Serbian beat Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-1 in an earlier match Tuesday.
The Belorussian's backhand caught Hlavackova going the wrong way for a break point and 4-2 lead. She would save four break points in the ninth game before holding serve to take the opening set.
Hlavackova saved five break points to hold her serve and lead 2-1 in the second set, but was broken after double-faulting to trail 3-2.
Azarenka seemed to stutter toward the end as she double-faulted to be broken for Hlavackova to tie it up 5-5.
Azarenka saved set point with a forehand smash and took it to the tiebreaker where she moved out to 5-1 before clinching it when Hlavackova -- who had needed treatment on her left thigh late in the second set -- hit long.
"Sometimes you have these roller coasters and she is one those players that doesn't allow you a rhythm," Azarenka said, who is playing her second clay court event this season after losing to Sharapova in the Stuttgart final. "I'm glad I could stay in control and finish the match. There is more room to improve."
Sharapova was more convincing in her second-round match, as Zakopalova's erratic serve opened her up to Sharapova's solid ground strokes. Sharapova won the first of five breaks in the opening game and was in command after another break saw her lead 4-1.
Zakopalova came forward to break back in the next game but could get no closer as the pair held serve before Sharapova clinched the set with one of four aces.
Zakopalova was overpowered again on her opening serve but saved match point and broke back to get to 5-3 before her seventh double-fault clinched it for Sharapova.
In men's play, Jurgen Melzer rallied to beat Feliciano Lopez 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4, the first seeded player to exit.
Ninth-seeded Gilles Simon of France rallied for 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-3 win over Fabio Fognini of Italy and other seeded players Juan Martin del Potro, Gael Monfils and Fernando Verdasco also advanced.
Hard-hitting Canadian player Milos Raonic beat Argentina's David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-4.
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic makes his blue clay debut later Tuesday against Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain.
