Top seeds advance in Madrid Open

TENNIS: The top two seeds advanced to the Madrid Open second round on Sunday when Victoria Azarenka dispatched Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 6-4 and Maria Sharapova crushed Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0 6-2.

But 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone was upset 6-4 6-7 6-3 by US qualifier Varvara Lepchenko.

Former number ones Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic had contrasting matches as both progressed into the second round.

Dane Wozniacki, the sixth seed, had to battle past Kazakhstan’s Ksenia Pervak 7-6 3-6 6-4, while Ivanovic of Serbia, the 13th seed, dismissed French qualifier Mathilde Johansson 6-4 6-1.

The Williams sisters Serena and Venus are in action today.