2011 US Open champion and top seed Samantha Stosur began her campaign for a first Citi Open title with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 victory over Russian qualifier Alla Kudryavtseva in Washington DC. Stosur, who reached the semifinals here last year, showed some big power tennis throughout, cruising to an opening round win in only 57 minutes in America's capital city.
Stosur gains solitary break, enough to take easy opening set
Stosur and Kudryavtseva began the match each with routine holds of their owns to begin the first round meeting. The pair then exchanged holds of serve two more times for 3-all, before the Australian took a commanding hold of serve for 4-3.
The top-seeded Stosur then played an impressive return game to break the Kudryavtseva serve, taking the lead at her first time of asking for a 5-3 lead.
With a break in her pocket, the former US Open winner kept up the commanding tennis, taking an easy hold of serve to claim the first set 6-3.
Stosur dominates second set to claim easy first round win
Stosur began the second set right where she left off in the second set, seizing an early lead with an immediate break of serve followed by a routine service game for 2-0. The Australian number one then took another break to put herself nearer to the finish line, consolidating the break for 4-0.
Only two games from a comfortable opening round win, Stosur settled in, taking another break to give herself the chance to serve out the match the next game. The top seed made no mistake when serving it out, taking a routine hold to claim a dominant 6-3, 6-0 victory on day one of the Citi Open here in Washington DC.
Stosur behind the numbers
Stosur served fairly well throughout, cracking an impressive eight aces on her trademark kick serve. Unfortunately for the Aussie, double faults plagued her throughout as well, with eight double faults thrown in to mitigate her aces.
Where the top seed was most reliable was making her first deliveries count, making 67 percent of first serves and winning a whopping 90 percent of her points on that highly effective second serve. Though with the double faults, it was clear to see the struggle on the second serve, with Stosur only winning a very low 25 percent of points off of her second serve, something she will most definitely need to clean up for the next round.
Up next for Stosur
A very tough second round opponent looms for the Aussie, with former world number one Caroline Wozniacki a potential second round for Stosur. Wozniacki, who's injury struggles the past twelve months have lead her to a very low 60 in the rankings, will face Japanese lucky loser Hiroko Kuwata later tonight in DC. Stosur, who has never faced Kuwata, trails in the head to head against Wozniacki 4-6, but the top seed will most definitely be the favorite if the two former top five players collide here in the nation's capital.