Zvonareva avoids upset with marathon win

Associated Press

MASON, Ohio

Two rain delays and one determined opponent almost added up to disaster for Vera Zvonareva.

The sixth-seeded Zvonareva waited through two rain delays totaling 3 hours and 28 minutes before finally overcoming Maria Kirilenko and pulling out a 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3) win in the second round of the Cincinnati Women’s Open on Wednesday.

The two Russians needed a total of 6 hours and 54 minutes to complete their match, including a delay of 2 hours and 19 minutes with the 28th-ranked Kirilenko leading 5-2 in the third set.

After they returned to the court, the 10th-ranked Zvonareva won three straight games and four of five before taking control of the tiebreaker by winning the first three points.

She wasn’t sure if the second delay helped.

“I always believe in myself,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m down 5-0, I think I can win it.”

Zvonareva is scheduled to face 11th-seeded Flavia Pennetta in the third round.

Third-seeded Elena Dementieva became the highest seed to be eliminated from the tournament when she was upset by 25th-ranked Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 5-3 in another matchup of Russians.

Rogers Cup

TORONTO

Novak Djokovic earned a 7-5, 7-5 win over France’s Julien Benneteau on Wednesday at the Rogers Cup.

Andy Murray, the defending champion who is ranked fourth in the world, beat Belgium’s Xavier Malisse 7-5, 6-2.

Djokovic won the Canadian tournament three years ago, having beaten both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

He has reached the quarterfinals in each of the past two years.