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Tennis

Safina and Venus march into third round

28/08/2008

In-form Russian Dinara Safina has reached the third round of the US Open after overcoming Italian Roberta Vinci 6-4 6-3 today.

Safina, who has had a breakthrough year by reaching the final of the French Open and winning three titles, out-powered her opponent to set up a third round match with either Taiwan's Chan Yung-jan or Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland.

Despite winning the last 17 of 18 matches she has played, Safina still feels she has to improve if she wants to win her first Grand Slam.

" I think it still could be better, especially as I was 4-1 up in the first set and then I let it go to four-all," said Safina. "I was lucky that I held my serve - there is much more room for me to play better."

It was one-way traffic in the match between Venus Williams and Rossana de los Rios. Wimbledon champion Williams eased to a 6-0 6-3 win in less than an hour.

Williams, who is seeded seventh and could meet her sister Serena in the quarter-finals, will now play Alona Bondarenko in the next round, after she beat Sabine Lisicki 6-4 1-6 6-4.

Rising Polish star Agnieszka Radwanska also advanced after beating Mariana Duque Marino of Columbia 6-0, 7-6 (7-3).