Petrova advances to second round in Carson

CARSON, Calif. -- Wimbledon quarterfinalist Nadia Petrova moved into the second round of the East West Bank Classic on Tuesday with her first hardcourt win since January, a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Russian countrywoman Alina Jidkova. Petrova, the ninth seed in the $650,000 WTA Tour event, ended a five-match losing streak on hardcourts and was joined in the second round by No. 10 Flavia Pennetta of Italy, No. 11 Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic and No. 15 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia. But the tournament lost another star when Wimbledon finalist and No. 2 seed Serena Williams withdrew due to an injured left knee. Williams had withdrawn Saturday at Stanford, but expressed a desire to play at the Home Depot Center over the advice of medical personnel and her father, Richard. But she said that after warming up Tuesday morning... [read full story]