Black Tennis Pros

ROME (AP) — Venus Williams needed three sets to win her opening match at the Italian Open on Monday, beating Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

"I was OK with the match being a little longer," Williams said. "I just I want to hit balls. In a way it's not too bad to go three sets. "

She appeared to take control of the clay-court match in the first set, firing eight aces and as many winners in 28 minutes.

However, the American's service levels dropped and Safarova started playing her powerful groundstrokes deeper in the second set. Williams was broken in the third game and was unable to break back with Safarova serving out to win the set.

In the deciding set, the fourth-seeded Williams held serve in a crucial third game after saving four break points. She went on to break in the following game, as a forehand by the 22-year-old Czech went wide, and then again to close out the match.

Both players had 22 winners, but Safarova had 33 unforced errors, seven more than Williams.

"We both played aggressive," Williams said. "She's just going for every shot, for the lines."

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Round 1 - Singles

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA defeated Nicolas Mahut, FRA
0-6, 7-6(5), 6-2

James Blake, USA vs. BYE


Round - 1 Doubles

James Blake, USA and Mardy Fish, USA
defeated
Igor Andreev, RUS and Mikhail Youzhny, RUS
6-1, 6-4

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA and Gilles Simon, FRA
defeated by
Rainer Schuettler, GER and Alexander Waske, GER
6-3, 6-4


Qualifying Rounds

Julio Silva, BRA eliminated in round 1 by Kristof Vliegen
6-4, 7-5



Round 1 - Singles

Venus Williams, USA vs. BYE

Serena Williams, USA vs. BYE

Final Qualifying Round

Alexis Gordon, USA and Theresa Logar, USA




Round 1 - Singles

Marcus Fugate, USA vs. Thomas Schoeck, GER


Round 1 - Doubles

Marcus Fugate, USA and Lance Vodicka, USA
vs.
(WC) Robert Gates, USA and Jeff Zenisek, USA




Round 1 - Doubles

Phillip Simmonds, USA and Tim Smyczek, USA
vs.
Ryler De Heart, USA and Todd Widom, USA

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Quarterfinal Round - Singles

James Blake, USA defeated by Stanislas Wawrinka, SUI
7-6(5), 6-7(5) 1-6



Quarterfinal Round - Singles

Serena Williams, USA defeated by Dinara Safina
2-6, 6-1, 7-6(5)





Round 2 - Singles

Raquel Kops-Jones, USA defeated by Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
6-2, 6-2


Semifinal Round - Doubles

Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears
defeated
Tetiana Luzhanska, UKR and Romana Tedjakusuma, INA
6-3, 1-6, 10/5





Semifinal Round

Scoville Jenkins, USA defeated by Ivan Miranda, PER
6-2, 3-6, 6-3




Semifinal Round - Singles

Marcus Fugate, USA defeated by Clinton Thomson, AUS
6-1, 7-6(4)

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Round 1 - Singles

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA defeated by Gilles Simon, FRA
6-2, 4-6, 7-6(6)


Round 1 - Doubles

James Blake, USA and Mardy Fish, USA
defeated
Marcelo Melo, BRA and Andre Sa, BRA
7-6(3), 2-6, 10/7



Round - 2 Singles

Serena Williams, USA defeated Francesca Schiavone
6-2, 6-3

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