TENNIS in DEPTH.

Venus Williams and Serena Williams played their first singles matches of the 2009 Bank of the West Classic on Tuesday evening, both taking different paths on the way to straight-set victories.

Top-seeded Serena Williams held off a late charge from China’s Na Li for a 6-3, 7-6 (6) win during the night session and will now play Hungary’s Melinda Czink in the next round.

Meanwhile, second-seeded Venus Williams experienced little trouble against Canada’s Stephanie Dubois with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph in her first career appearance at the Bank of the West Classic since a runner-up finish to Kim Clijsters in 2005. Her next opponent is Russian qualifier Alla Kudryavtseva, who defeated Julie Coin of France 6-1, 7-6 (5) during Tuesday’s day session.

Other seeded players to emerge victorious on Tuesday included No. 4 seed Jelena Jankovic, a 6-3, 6-1 winner over American qualifier Angela Haynes and No. 8 seed Marion Bartoli, a 7-6 (6), 6-3 victory over Japan’s Ayumi Morita.

Sixth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova was not as lucky, falling victim to a 6-4, 6-3 upset by Australia’s Samantha Stosur.

There will be a new tournament champion as well this year, following Daniela Hantuchova’s 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 marathon win over defending champion Aleksandra Wozniak.

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