Azarenka, Kvitova take US Open wins

Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus logged an easy triumph and fifth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova joined her in the third round Wednesday at the U.S. Open. Azarenka had little trouble against Belgian qualifier Kirsten Flipkens, dispatching her 6-2, 6-2 in 65 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium in a second-round match-up. The world No. 1 will next face 28th-ranked Zheng Jie of China, who whipped Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-1. Kvitova, meanwhile, breezed past Alize Cornet of France 6-4, 6-3. This year's Wimbledon champ has reached at least the quarterfinals of all three previous Grand Slam events this year. In other Day 3 action, 15th-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic managed a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 triumph over Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak and No. 19 Russian Nadia Petrova blasted Romanian Simona Halep 6-1, 6-1. Also Wednesday, Pauline Parmentier of France upended 25th-seeded Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 and 31st-seeded American Varvara Lepchenko sent Anastasia Rodionova of Australia packing, 6-2, 6-2. American Mallory Burdette and Luxembourg's Mandy Minella also advanced with Wednesday victories.