Li, Sharapova struggle to advance

Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka eased into the third round of the Pan Pacific Open with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Austria's Tamira Paszek yesterday.

Two-time champion Maria Sharapova had a tougher time subduing British qualifier Heather Watson 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-4, while 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the fourth seed, was upset by Petra Martic of Croatia 4-6, 4-6.

Li Na, last year's Roland Garros winner, shrugged off a nasty cough to beat Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 and reach the third round of the US$2.16 million Tokyo event.

"I'm still not 100 percent," Li said. "Just trying to stay healthy and taking (cough) medicine every morning and night."

Li's compatriot Zheng Jie, however, lost, falling 0-6, 3-6 to 12th-seeded Slovak Dominika Cibulkova.

Azarenka played her first match since losing a thriller in the US Open final to Serena Williams. "This was my first match after a little break and that's never easy," the Belarussian world No. 1 said. "But I was able to play some good tennis."

Next up will be Roberta Vinci of Italy, who beat Pauline Parmentier of France 6-3, 6-1.

Watson pushed Sharapova to three sets in their last match at the 2011 US Open, and did it again by winning a marathon tiebreaker in the first set.

"I was facing someone who had gone through the qualis and already played so I was definitely the rustier of the two," said Sharapova, who had 14 double faults. "Overall, it was just one of those matches where you are glad to be through."

The second-seeded Sharapova, who won in Tokyo in 2005 and 2009, took control of the third set when she broke Watson's serve for 4-3. She sealed the win when Watson sent a forehand return long.

Sharapova's next opponent, Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, moved on when compatriot Klara Zakopalova was unable to play because of a left wrist injury.

Kvitova said she had trouble establishing her game against the hard-hitting Martic, who was playing her second tournament since recovering from a foot injury at the French Open. This was the biggest win of her career. "Petra has really improved her forehand," Kvitova said. "She hits it very hard down the line and crosscourt and in addition, her serve has a good slice which can be tough for players to handle."

Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia overcame Italy's Francesca Schiavone 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Also through were Angelique Kerber of Germany, Sara Errani of Italy, Marion Bartoli of France and Nadia Petrova of Russia.