Williams sisters win in Rome

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ROME, May 16 (UPI) -- Ninth-seeded Serena Williams and older sister Venus each corralled second-round victories Wednesday, moving on at the Italian Open.

Serena Williams improved to 15-0 on clay courts this year, rallying for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Russian Nadia Petrova.

The American star and former world No. 1 advances to take on Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues.

Venus Williams, playing in Rome as a wild card, topped Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (9-7), 6-1 at the Foro Italico, advancing to face Australian Samantha Stosur, who got past Italian favorite Sara Errani 6-3, 7-5.

Wednesday's Day 3 produced a pair of upsets.

World No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland was upended by Czech Petra Cetkovska 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, while former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki retired with an upper respiratory illness during her 6-4, 4-0 loss to Medina Garrigues.

Other winners included Li Na, Julia Goerges, Angelique Kerber, Ana Ivanovic, Dominika Cibulkova, Chanelle Scheepers, Flavia Pennetta and Sorana Cirstea.