Mattek moves into third round at Carson

Updated: July 23, 2008, 8:40 PM EST Comment CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Bethanie Mattek, who has improved her ranking almost 100 places since early April, took another step forward Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-0 victory against 11th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic in the second round of the East West Bank Classic. The 23-year-old Mattek, from Miami, was ranked 153rd in the WTA Tour rankings on April 7 after losing six of seven matches to open the season. But she made it to the semifinals of a grass-court tournament in England before losing to Serena Williams in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, moving her into 59th place entering this $600,000, 56-player event. Mattek's win over Vaidisova was her ninth in 11 matches, including a 6-3, 6-0 win over Vaidisova in England. Mattek's third-round opponent Thursday will be Olga... [read full story]