Bulgaria's top ranking female tennis player Tsvetana Pironkova proceeded to the second round of the Western and Southern Open tournament, which is taking place in Cincinnati between August 15 and 23.

In the first round Pironkova defeated Lucie Hradecka from the Czech Republic with 7:5, 3:6, 6:1 in a match, which lasted one hour and 45 minutes.

In the opening set, the Bulgarian managed to achieve an early break and came in the lead with 2:0, daily Dnevnik reports.

However Hradecka managed to win the next four games and to come in the lead with 5:4.

Pironkova scored a decisive break, won three consecutive games and claimed the first set.

In the second set, the Bulgarian conceded a break in the first game and Hradecka held the initiative until the end.

In the last set, Pironkova came in the lead with 4:0 and conceded only a single game to her Czech opponent.

In the second round, Pironkova is to face the world No. 1 Serena Williams from the USA, who claimed the title in Cincinnati last year.

This will be the fourth encounter between the Bulgarian and Williams, the American having won all three previous encounters.

Pironkova will be playing at the second round of the Cincinnati Masters for the first time in her career.

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