Li wins opener in Rome
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rome, Italy (SportsNetwork.com) - Australian Open champion Li Na was an easy second-round winner at the $2.6 million Italian International tennis event, a clay court French Open tune-up at Foro Italico.
Following an opening-round bye, the second seed blew past Aussie qualifier Casey Dellacqua 6-1, 6-4 in 1 hour, 17 minutes in Tuesday's nightcap.
The former French Open champion Li was the Rome runner-up two years ago.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Also in the second round, Chinese Zhang Shuai stunned fifth-seeded former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-3 and Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska ousted seventh-seeded German Angelique Kerber 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
In opening-round play involving seeds, rising Italian Camila Giorgi took out No. 9 Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), No. 10 former French Open finalist Sara Errani of Italy handled South African qualifier Chanelle Scheepers 7-5, 6-3 and No. 13 Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro grounded German qualifier Mona Barthel 6-2, 6-2.
"The pressure is positive. It's great that the fans come to see you," said the wild card Giorgi. "Playing at home happens only once per year."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Russian Ekaterina Makarova dismissed veteran Italian favorite Roberta Vinci 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) in a first-round affair.
Additional first-round wins came for Puerto Rican qualifier Monica Puig, Swiss qualifier Belinda Bencic, Spaniard Garbine Muguruza and American qualifier Christina McHale, who snuck past Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 on Day 2.
In some more second-round play on Wednesday, world No. 1 Serena Williams will face former top-10 German Andrea Petkovic, third-seeded former Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska will encounter Argentine lucky loser Paula Ormaechea and hot eighth-seeded former No. 1 Maria Sharapova will tangle with Puig. Sharapova has won her last two events, both on clay, including last week in Madrid.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Williams is the reigning Rome titlist, having beaten Victoria Azarenka in last year's final for her second title here. Sharapova is a two-time champion at Foro Italico.