TORONTO: Serena Williams earned a 6-0, 6-3 first-round victory against Ukraine’s Alona Bondarenko at the Rogers Cup on Tuesday.
The winner of 13 Grand Slam tournaments aced her second serve of the match.
No. 2 seed Kim Clijsters withdrew from her second-round match in the second set while leading 6-3, 1-2 against China’s Zheng Jie.
“I still have a few weeks till (the U.S. Open) and we’ll try to do everything to be ready,” said Clijsters, who won the tournament in 2005.
The American got through the first set in 16 minutes using her speed and power, as a bewildered Bondarenko scattered across the court helplessly.
Bondarenko put up some fight early in the second, but could do little to contain Williams’ imposing serve and forehand.
Williams, who is working her way back from a foot injury that put her out of the WTA’s top 100, is using the tournament as warmup for the U.S. Open.
Although she rolled on Tuesday, Williams stopped short of saying she’s Grand Slam-ready.
“I would hate to be Grand Slam-ready right now, seeing as how the U.S. Open is not right now, so I’ll try to peak at the right time,” Williams said. (Agencies)
