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Serena beats Makarova, reclaims top ranking

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-06 17:38

BEIJING - Serena Williams ensured she would return to the top of the world rankings next week with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the second round of the $6.6 million China Open on Tuesday.

Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning her second round match against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing October 6, 2009. Serena went on to win the match, and become again the number-one-ranked player in the world. [Agencies]

Dinara Safina's second round defeat at the hands of 226th-ranked wildcard Zhang Shuai on Monday left the way open for Williams to end the Russian's 25-week reign as number one and she never really looked like blowing her chance.

The 28-year-old American was broken in her first service game and made a meal of her last but converted her fourth match point to seal the victory, raising a single finger in the air in celebration of her return to the top.

If Williams's victory was relatively straightforward, Maria Sharapova's fight back from 5-2 down in the third set to beat ninth seeded Belarussian Victoria Azarenka 6-3 6-7 7-5 was anything but.

Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a shot during her second round match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing October 6, 2009. [Agencies]

The 15th seeded Russian, who clinched her first title since her return from injury in Tokyo last Saturday, was forced to come from behind time and again in a match that featured 16 breaks of serve, finally prevailing after three hours.

SHRIEKING PAIR

Alternate shrieks pierced the air on centre court as the pair slugged it out from the baseline and Sharapova needed to produce sublime winners from both sides to return from the brink of defeat and take her place in the third round.

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva continued her golden run at the Olympic tennis centre with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Hungarian Melinda Czink.

Playing on court number one rather than the central arena where she won Olympic gold last year, the Russian never looked in any danger against world number 51 Czink and faces China's number one Li Na in the last 16.

The 2004 China Open champion Marat Safin earlier had a 6-4 6-2 first round win over Argentine Jose Acasuso to start one of his last events as he heads towards retirement.

Seventh seed Fernando Gonzalez also progressed with a 7-5 6-4 win over Spain's David Ferrer and American James Blake beat German qualifier Florian Mayer 6-3 3-6 6-3.

Top seed Rafael Nadal returns from a layoff for an abdominal injury to play his opening match against fellow former China Open champion Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in the following match on centre court.