Williams sisters move on at U.S. Open

NEW YORK, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Serena Williams and No. 3 Venus Williams pulled off victories in straight sets Wednesday to reach the third round of the U.S. Open.

Serena Williams needed just 53 minutes to dispose of Melinda Czink in an evening match. Czink was appearing in her 17th major tournament and this was just the seventh time she had reached the second round.

Despite being troubled by a sore knee, Venus Williams cruised by Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 6-2.

Former Open champion Kim Clijsters, unseeded for this event, advanced with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 14 seed Marion Bartoli. Clijsters returned to the tennis tour last month after a two-year retirement. Her only major crown came at the U.S. Open in 2005.

Seventh-seeded Vera Zvonareva rallied to defeat Anna Chakvetadze 3-6, 6-1, 6-1; No. 8 Victoria Azarenka defeated Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 6-1; and 10th-seeded Flavia Pennetta crushed Sania Mirza 6-0, 6-0.

The biggest surprise of the day came when Maria Kirilenko defeated 12th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. No. 17 Amelie Mauresmo was also an upset victim, falling 6-4, 6-0 to Aleksandra Wozniak.