ROUND ONE: [4] Simona Halep (ROU) vs. [52] Shelby Rogers (USA)
I expected Rogers to push Halep, but I was just as shocked as everyone by the score line. In their only previous encounter, Halep dispatched of Rogers fairly routinely 6-2, 6-3. Not so today as Halep never seemed to have shown up for the match. I thought she would settle down after the first set and fight her way back, but sadly, I was disappointed to see what appeared to be a lack of real enthusiasm or interest. This is not good for Halep and certainly not good for the tournament. However, take nothing away from Rogers who never blinked. She knew what she had to do and she did it. She did not lose her cool or stumble and she kept the pressure on the entire match to get the easy upset 6-3, 6-1.
[13] Venus Williams (USA) vs. [101] Kateryna Kozlova (UKR)
Venus expected a battle, after all in their one previous encounter last year, Kozlova pushed her to three sets. As this time, it was the first round of a Major (2016 US Open) and it looked liked Kozlova would get the better of her this time around. She took the early break in the first set and seemed the fresher while Venus struggled to breathe and move for most of the set. Yet, somehow, the veteran was able to dig deep into her years of experience to find a way to win the match 7-6(5), 7-5. It was not pretty, at times it looked as if Venus would collapse but she persevered and came away with the hard fought victory to advance to round two.
SOURCE OF IMAGE: Getty Images and Zimbio
