• US Open, Day Three

Zvonareva battles past Bondarenko

Vera Zvonareva had to show her fighting skills to prevail in three sets © PA Photos

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The second seed and last year's finalist Vera Zvonareva survived a real scare before ultimately easing into the third round of the US Open.

The Russian only found Kim Clijsters too good 12 months ago, but she was in danger of losing a stack of ranking points when Kateryna Bondarenko fought back to force a third set only for Zvonareva to regroup in time to claim a 7-5 3-6 6-3.

The opening set was a tight affair, with Bondarenko keeping in touch on account of the 19 unforced errors that flew off the Zvonareva racket, but the No. 2 seed claimed a vital break to close out the set 7-5.

Zvonareva never looked comfortable in the first set and her jittery play carried into the second set. And with Bondarenko more willing to chance her arm, she was able to break on three occasions to level the match.

Zvonareva has so often been a confidence player but on this occasion it was her fighting spirit that enabled her to progress into round three. She mixed her play up, moving into the net on occasions, and although she found it tough to close out the match she eventually won a marathon final service game to seal the win.

Maria Sharapova had no such troubles against a helpless Anastasiya Yakimova. The third seed breezed to an impressive 6-1 6-1 victory in just 69 minutes.

Indeed, the Russian claimed an early stranglehold on the match and thereafter showed she is an impeccable frontrunner. Sharapova didn't allow Yakimova any opportunity to find her rhythm as she clubbed aggressive, flat groundstrokes into the corners whilst striking the ball from well inside the baseline.

Sabine Lisicki was handed a bye into round three, as former champion Venus Williams pulled out due to an illness, which she later revealed to be the energy-draining condition known as Sjorgen Syndrome.

Sam Stosur silenced the home crowd by beating Coco Vandeweghe 6-3 6-4, but the New York crowd saw an American win as Christina McHale ousted eighth seed Marion Bartoli 7-6(2) 6-2.

Julia Goerges is striving for form after a recent dip and the 19th seed crushed Laura Pous-Tio 6-2 6-1.

Madison Keys is viewed as a real prospect in American tennis and the 16-year-old served notice of her potential when pushing the 27th seed Lucie Safarova all the way. Keys threatened an upset when dominating Safarova in the first set, but the Czech dug in and after claiming a touch second she dominated the third to claim a 3-6 7-5 6-4 win.

12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska was bundled out of the tournament by Angelique Kerber. The 23-year-old German claimed a 6-3 4-6 6-3 win over her more highly fancied opponent.

Shuai Peng is keeping the flag flying for China following the departure of Li Na and the 13th seed proved much too good for Tsvetana Pironkova, winning 6-2 6-4 to advance to the third round.

Injury ended the campaign of 20th seed Yanina Wickmayer, as she retired against Alla Kudryavtseva. The Belgian was forced to bow out of the Texas Open in Dallas for the same reason, and despite battling bravely until midway through the second set, it was aparent Wickmayer could no longer continue.

No. 25 seed Maria Kirilenko got the better of an all-Russia affair with Vera Dushevina, while Monica Niculescu dropped just three games in beating her fellow Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru.

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