NEW YORK (AP) — Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka needed only 50 minutes to defeat Alexandra Panova 6-0, 6-1 on Monday in the opening round of the U.S. Open.
Azarenka, the Australian Open champion, is trying to become the first top-seeded woman to win a Grand Slam tournament since Serena Williams captured the Wimbledon title in 2010.
Azarenka has never been past the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
She had 20 winners to only two for Panova, the 76th-ranked Russian who is still in search of her first win in the main draw of a Grand Slam.
