NEW YORK (AP) Fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka easily advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday.
Azarenka beat 60th-ranked Johanna Larsson of Sweden 6-1, 6-3 in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Azarenka broke Larsson's serve to convert her first match point and win in just 70 minutes.
The fifth-ranked player from Belarus had pulled out of the U.S. Open warmup in Cincinnati with a right hand strain. This is the only major tournament where she has never reached the quarterfinals.
Azarenka could potentially face Serena Williams in the third round this time. She had to retire in the second round last year, collapsing because of a concussion suffered in a fall before the match.
Azarenka won 77 percent of points on her second serve Tuesday, even better than the 72 percent on her first serve.