Azarenka downs King in Cincy

Second seed Victoria Azarenka booked the first of the third round spots after a bye as she defeated American Vania King 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) at the WTA Cincinnati Open on Tuesday.

Azarenka was playing for the first time since losing the Carlsbad final to Samantha Stosur, then withdrawing injured from Toronto.

In the first round, Germans Mona Barthel and Andrea Petkovic got wins, with Barthel beating Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-4 and Petkovic knocking out Daniela Hantuchova 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Results on Tuesday from the ATP and WTA Western and Southern Open (x denotes seed):

Men's singles:

First round:
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) bt Kei Nishikori (JPN x10) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) bt Benot Paire (FRA) 7-6 (10/8), 6-3
Tommy Haas (GER x11) bt Kevin Anderson (RSA) 6-4, 6-4
Tommy Robredo (ESP) bt Thomaz Belluci (BRA) 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (9/7), 6-2

Women's singles:

First round:
Mona Barthel (GER) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE) 6-3, 6-4
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) bt Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1

Second round:
Victoria Azarenka (BLR x2) bt Vania King (USA) 6-1, 7-6 (8/6)