Safina reaches 3rd round at Rogers Cup

Dinara Safina was a straight-sets winner over fellow Russian Anastiasa Rodionova at the Rogers Cup on Wednesday, the biggest day so far for the women's tennis tournament.
 
Seeded seventh, Safina won by scores of 6-4, 6-2 at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal. She advanced to the third round and will face No. 9 Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, who defeated Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-1, 7-5.
 
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also moved on to the third round. The No. 11 seed, who turns 19 on Thursday, defeated Austrian veteran Sybille Bammer 6-2, 6-2.
 
The top three women's seeds will debut on Wednesday after receiving byes into the second round.
 
Serbian Ana Ivanovic, the top-ranked player in the world and 2006 Rogers Cup winner, will take on Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic.
 
No. 2 Jelena Jankovic, also of Serbia, will take on Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak in the marquee night match. The Blainville, Que., native defeated teenager Chan Yung-Jan of Taiwan on Tuesday night.
 
Wozniak is one of two Canadians remaining in the singles draw. Stephanie Dubois of Laval, Que., will play in the afternoon against 13th seed Maria Kirilenko of Russia.
 
Third seed Maria Sharapova of Russia will play at night, taking on Poland's Marta Domachowska.
 
CBC Sports will broadcast the semifinals and final of the tournament on Saturday and Sunday.
 
In other results on Wednesday:
 

• No. 12 Nadia Petrova of Russia was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.
• Ai Sugiyama of Japan defeated Shahar Peer of Israel 6-2, 6-2.
• Tamira Paszek of Austria topped Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-4, 7-5.
• Portugal's Michelle Larcher de Brito, 15, eliminated Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-3, 0-6, 6-3.

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