 |
| Justine Henin-Hardenne in action against Mariana Diaz-Oliva in the second round of the Rogers Cup© Dave Sandford/Getty Images |
TORONTO (AP) -- Justin Henin-Hardenne of Belgium made short work of Argentine qualifier Mariana Diaz-Oliva with a 6-1, 6-3 victory Wednesday at the Rogers Cup.
Henin-Hardenne, the fourth-seeded player in the $1.3 million tournament and the winner two years ago, played with a wrapped right hamstring. But it didn't appear to hinder her against Diaz-Oliva.
"It's getting better,'' Henin-Hardenne said. "But you'll see me playing with my tape probably through the end of the year, because my doctor told me that I really have to take care of this because it's not 100 percent.
"I know that it's maybe going to bother me in the next few weeks, new few months.''
In other matches, sixth-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia ousted Sesil Karatantcheva of Bulgaria 4-6, 6-1, 6-4; No. 7 Kim Clijsters of Belgium toppled Virginie Razzano of France, 6-3, 6-0; No. 9 Anastasia Myskina of Russia defeated American qualifier Laura Granville 6-3, 5-7, 6-2; No. 12 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia outlasted Marion Bartoli of France, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3), and Spain's Conchita Martinez defeated No. 15 Dinara Safina of Russia 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the third round.
The 16-year-old Karatantcheva played a strong first set but had a tough time with the Russian's powerful serve later in the match. Petrova had a first-round bye.
"In the beginning it was difficult,'' Petrova said. "I haven't been playing well.''
Fifth-seeded Serena Williams withdrew with an injured left knee. Williams defeated Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the second round Tuesday.
She had been sidelined since Wimbledon with an injured left ankle.
"Because of my ankle injury I had to take some time off so my leg isn't as strong as it needs to be,'' Williams said in a release. "So the pain in my knee is a result of that.''
Williams was the sixth top-20 player to withdraw from the event in the past week.