Russian Maria Kirilenko beat sixth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany 6-2, 6-3, Tuesday in a first round match at the Bank of the West Classic. Seventh-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, playing her first match with a new coach and fitness trainer, was knocked off by Japan’s Ayumi Morita, 6-3, 7-5; Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova beat newcomer Rina Fujiwara of Japan, 6-0, 6-2; Germany’s Sabine… Serena Williams’ opponent in the second round will be Russia’s Maria Kirilenko, who had a surprisingly comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win over sixth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany. The 25th-ranked Kirilenko, who reached the quarter-finals of this event last year, snapped a 13-match losing streak against the top 20 with her victory over Goerges, but faces a tough task against Williams. “She’s coming back and she’s winning again,” Kirilenko said of Williams. “I need to be focused every minute.” Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova beat qualifier Rina Fujiwara of Japan, 6-0, 6-2 to set up a second-round meeting with second-seeded Maria Sharapova, who had a first-round bye. Germany’s Sabine Lisicki defeated Romania’s Simona Halep, 6-1, 6-2 and will take on Samantha Stosur in the second round; the Australian fourth seed also had a bye. Also getting free passage to the second round was top-seeded Victoria Azarenka. Her opponent will be qualifier Marina Erakovic of New Zealand,
who beat
Sweden’s
Sofia Arvidsson,
6-2, 6-1.
