Published: 12:35PM Wednesday May 14, 2008
Source: Reuters
Venus Williams's return from over a month on the sidelines with an unspecified medical problem was delayed on Wednesday as rain forced play to be abandoned at the Italian Open.
Only four matches were completed before organisers suspended play all together, with the seventh seed's second round match against Australian Samantha Stosur postponed until Thursday.
The American's sister Serena also had her match against Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko bumped into Thursday's schedule.
Russian world number two Maria Sharapova will start her Italian Open campaign on Wednesday against Dominika Cibulkova after the Slovak beat Argentine Gisela Dulko 7-6 6-4 in the first round.
Top seed Ana Ivanovic, who has a bye to the second round, will take on Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, a 6-4 6-2 winner over fellow qualifier Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic.
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka cruised past Austrian 19th seed Sybille Bammer 6-1 6-3 to reach the second round, while Italian wildcard Roberta Vinci beat Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-4 4-6 6-0.
News, blogs, interviews, TV Schedule and catch up ondemand
Find out what sport is on and when on TVNZ this month
The latest sports news bulletin as well as local and international sporting events
AÂ variety of sports shows profiling popular sports and rounding up news and events in the…
Snowtv.co.nz brings you all the best footage from this season's events
NZsnowboard.TV goes inside the scene profiling events, comps and snowboard missions
Contact Tri TV may be over for another year but you can still catch up on the best of the…
Advertising
