After a Sunday to forget in Rome the American contingent was excellent on Monday with nearly everyone advancing. One of the few American losses was in the women’s singles competition where Coco Vandeweghe dropped her opening match 4-6, 3-6. Of course her opponent was #12 Venus Williams so that was one was going to result in an American loss no matter what. The other American woman competing in singles on Monday was Madison Keys and she took care of business in straight sets against Andrea Petkovic of Germany 6-4, 6-1. Tuesday the tournament begins for #1 Serena Williams who will take on Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany as she tries to win for the first time this year. Also getting underway will be two qualifiers, Alison Riske against Sam Stosur of Australia and Christina McHale against Claudia Giovine of Italy.

The Williams sisters did suffer a loss in doubles competition on Monday as they lost to Andreja Klepac and Katrina Srebotnik of Slovenia 1-6, 5-7. Vania King will get going in the doubles tournament as she and partner Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia take on Lara Arruabarrena of Spain and Sara Errani of Italy. King and Kudryavtseva have reached the quarterfinals or better in all of the Premier 5 or better competitions this year.

Over on the men’s side it was a perfect day Monday for the Americans. Jack Sock dropped the first set to Guido Pella of Argentina but battled back to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. Sock continues his singles play Tuesday evening against #12 David Goffin of Belgium. In the doubles competition Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey defeated Daniel Nestor of Canada and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3. Another American, Rajeev Ram, begins doubles play on Tuesday as he will pair with Raven Klaasen of South Africa to take on Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France.

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