Williams opens WTA Championship defense with easy

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Defending champion Serena Williams breezed past Germany's Angelique Kerber in her opening match at
the WTA Championships in Istanbul's Sinan Erdem Dome on Tuesday,[url=http://www.billigabeat.com/team-series-21-252]Billiga Beats By Dr Dre[/url].
The world No.1 needed just 65 minutes to overpower the World No.9 winning 6-3, 6-1 as she looks to seal a
fourth WTA Championships crown and an incredible 11th title this season.
&quot,[url=http://www.billigabeat.com]Billiga Monster[/url];I feel really good -- I think I served very well -- and she's beaten me before so I was just a little nervous and
so focused going into this match. I felt like I was going to have to play well to win," Williams said.
"I'm actually happy about my match and I never say that! I'm really excited about that. I've been working really
hard since the Open and hopefully I can continue with that here."
Earlier, World No.2 Victoria Azarenka was made to work a little harder against Sara Errani.
Wawrinka ready for singles success
Roger Federer on mental toughness
A workout with David Ferrer
Serena Williams' toughest challenge
The Belarusian eventually came thorough 7-6, 6-2 but only after her Italian opponent sustained a calf injury at
the start of the second set.
Errani battled bravely but couldn't stop Azarenka bringing an end to a three-match losing streak which began
at the U.S. Open final where she lost to Williams. That defeat was followed by consecutive first round exits at
events in Tokyo, where she lost to sister Venus before she was dumped out in the first round of the China
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"I was missing a little bit too much at the beginning but I turned it around," Azarenka said after beating Errani.
"It was a little bit difficult to focus in the second set because I didn't know what was going on (with Errani's
injury). Even after the time-out, she was returning unbelievably and fought until the last point."
Sixth seed Petra Kvitova had a good head-to-head record going into her match against Poland's Agnieszka
Radwanska and once again came out on top.
The Czech triumphed in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to improve her match record against the World No.4 to 5-1 and
secure her 50th win in a WTA match this year,[url=http://www.billigabeat.com/monster-beats-pro-diamond-edition-247]Beats Sverige[/url].
The season finale features the top eight singles players and the top four doubles pairings who are competing
for a $6 million prize pot.
Wawrinka crashes out in Basel
Two ATP Tour 500 events are taking place this week as the top men look to secure their place at the
season-ending World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London which start on November 4.
Home favorite Stanislas Wawrinka crashed out in the first round of the World Tour 500 event in Basel,
Switzerland going down in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France.
The Swiss No.2 is currently eighth in the rankings,[url=http://www.billigabeat.com/monster-beats-by-dr-dre-tour-254]Beats By Dr Dre[/url], but seventh in the Race to London given that Andy Murray
has withdrawn from the event. Wawrinka can secure his place at the London finals with a good showing at the
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Read more: Andy Murray to step up comeback
Tomas Berdych also suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Croatian Ivo Karlovic. The 34-year-old veteran
dispatched the World No.6 4-6, 7-6, 7-6.
Berdych would have guaranteed a place at the World Tour Finals in London if he had reached the semifinals
in Basel, but will now have wait until next week to seal a top eight slot.
Elsewhere, there were comfortable wins for Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis who overcame Germany's Benjamin
Becker 7-6, 6-1, and Croatia's Ivan Dodig, who is through to the second round after his opponent Carlos
Berlocq retired after two games.
Meanwhile at the ATP Tour event in Valencia, Spain's Nicolas Almagro is safely through to the second round
after beating compatriot Pablo Andujar 6-2, 6-3.
But there was disappointment for the Spanish crowd as Fernando Verdasco went down 6-3 7-6 to Polish
qualifier Michal Przysiezny and Feliciano Lopez lost out 6-3, 6-1 to France's Julien Benneteau.
Przysiezny's compatriot Jerzy Janowicz also overcame Spanish opposition defeating Pablo Carreno 7-5, 7-
6.
Russia's Mikhail Youzhny is through to the second round after Bernard Tomic retired. The Australian pulled
out of the match when he was trailing 4-1 in the final set.