Williams sisters win opening matches at Italian Open; defending champ Safina falls

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Williams sisters advance in Rome

ROME — Returning after long absences because of knee problems, Serena and Venus Williams tuned up for this month’s French Open by beating Swiss opponents in opening matches Tuesday at the Italian Open.

Top-ranked Serena defeated Timea Bacsinszky 7-6 (2), 6-1 in her first match since winning the Australian Open more than three months ago. Fourth-ranked Venus topped Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-2.

Defending champion Dinara Safina, recovered from a back injury, lost her opener against Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1. Safina twice smashed her racket in frustration.

“I think the only good thing about this match was that my back didn’t create any problems,” she said.

Recently No. 1, Safina retired from the Australian Open in January with a lower back injury. In her first tournament back, last week’s Porsche Grand Prix, she lost in the quarterfinals.

Serena was down 4-1 and saved three set points at 5-4 before going to a tiebreaker. After dominating the tiebreaker, she ran off the next four games.

“I went in there thinking I can win or I can lose,” she said. “You never know what can happen and I didn’t put too much pressure on myself. I got off to a little bit of a slow start, but it was good and I was able to fight it off.”

Venus had been sidelined since losing the Key Biscayne final a month ago. She had an easy time against Schnyder, a left-hander who defeated Serena in Rome last year.

“I think it was a pretty good performance. I felt good on court,” said Venus, broke serve six times. “She probably likes clay with her type of game, and I was able to execute pretty well out there on the court.”

The sisters, former Rome champions, are preparing for the French Open, which begins May 23.

The third-seeded Safina struggled in her 2-hour, 40-minute match. She recovered from a 4-0 deficit to make it 4-4 but lost the next two games. After taking the second set in a tiebreaker, Safina fell behind 5-0 and sent a forehand wide to give Dulgheru the match.

Second-ranked Caroline Wozniacki beat Maria Elena Camerin 6-1, 6-0, and former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4. Azarenka appeared to be struggling with a leg injury.

Ivanovic’s ranking has slipped from No. 1 to No. 58. The Serb has been trying to regain her form and recently hired Steffi Graf’s former coach, Heinz Gunthardt.

Two-time former champion Jelena Jankovic defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S. 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; Elena Dementieva downed Yaroslava Shvedova 6-4, 7-5; Lucie Safarova swept Flavia Pennetta 6-1, 6-2; Agnieszka Radwanska routed Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-0; and Shahar Peer rallied past Polona Hercog 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.