Top women struggle at US Open

On another day of blistering heat at Flushing Meadows, the top women’s players began to struggle.

Venus Williams (3) needed a tiebreak to win the first set against Rebecca Marino.  No. 13 Marion Bartoli lost her 2nd Round match against Virginie Razzano.

Unseeded Ana Ivanovic got through the 2nd round with a win over Jie Zheng (21).  Sara Errani defeated Alisa Kleybanova (28), and Mandy Minella beat Tsvetana Pironkova (32).

The most shocking development of the day was when No. 10 Victoria Azarenka collapse to the court and was taken to a hospital while losing to Gisela Dulko 5-1 in the first set.  Azarenka later released a statement via the USTA, “I was warming up in the gym prior to my match against Gisela Dulko, when I fell while running a sprint. I fell forward and hit my arm and head. I was checked by the medical team before I went on court, and they were courtside for monitoring. I felt worse as the match went on, having a headache and feeling dizzy. I also started having trouble seeing and felt weak before I fell. I was taken to the hospital for some medical tests and have been diagnosed with a mild concussion.”