Erratic Serena Williams moves into third round at Cincinnati

Serena Williams returns a shot during her match against Eugenie Bouchard of Canada at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Getty Images)

World No.1 Serena Williams labored to a 4-6 6-2 6-2 win over Eugenie Bouchard at the Western and Southern Open at Cincinnati.

Serena has pretty much won every major tournament there is to win in women’s tennis, but the WTA event at Cincinnati is one that has evaded her grasp all these years.

She managed to beat 19-year old Canadian Bouchard, but will have to up her game if she is to realize her dreams of taking home the trophy here. Williams admitted as much.

“Every ball I hit seemed to be going out and I even had the easiest approach shot and it went not slightly wide, it was like 50 feet out,” said Williams, who is coming off a win at the Toronto Masters this past Sunday.

“That was actually embarrassing.”

“I thought I’d never hit a shot like that professionally. I have maybe in practice with my eyes closed but never conscious have I hit a shot like that. So it was just some crazy tennis out there.”

One of Williams’ rivals, Maria Sharapova, has already been shown the door at Cincinnati when she was beaten by American youngster Sloane Stephens.

All of the tennis action though was overshadowed by the sudden announcement from Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli of her retirement from tennis. Bartoli was beaten 6-3, 4-6, 1-6 by Simona Halep of Romania, and in the post match press conference, the Frenchwoman, fighting back tears, announced to the gathered media that she was quitting the sport.

Other results

Round 2

5-Li Na (China) beat Lauren Davis (U.S.) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1

Simona Halep (Romania) beat 8-Marion Bartoli (France) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat Varvara Lepchenko (U.S.) 6-4, 6-0

Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Alize Cornet (France) 3-6, 7-5, 7-5

10-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Monica Niculescu (Romania) 6-4, 6-3

14-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3

Elena Vesnina (Russia) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2

7-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3

9-Angelique Kerber (Germany) beat Alisa Kleybanova (Russia) 7-6(3), 6-2

Mona Barthel (Germany) beat 16-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 6-4, 6-4

12-Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat Andrea Petkovic (Germany) 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3

6-Sara Errani (Italy) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4

11-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat Jamie Hampton (U.S.) 6-3, 7-6(3)