In another warm yet breezy New York day, the top women looked to progress into the third round on the courts at the US Open.

Azarenka Advances

The first match on Ashe Stadium featured two players attempting a return to at least their previous form. Two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka, has endured an injury-plagued 2014 while Christina McHale is in the midst of returning to her prior form following mononucleosis. After a slow start, Azarenka prevailed, advancing to the third round, 6-3 6-2.

McHale, from nearby Teaneck, New Jersey, has a history of training at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center and looked comfortable on the big stage early. She raced out to a 3-0 lead and forced Azarenka to save three additional break points before the Belarus native finally scratched the scoresheet. With that escape, the flood gates appeared to open in the first set, and Azarenka found a rhythm. Despite lengthy games and rallies, she rattled off six straight games to take the set at 6-3 in 64 minutes.

In the second set, Azarenka exhibited play that resembled her pre-injury form and powered her way to a 6-2 result.

Ivanovic Falls

Ana Ivanovic, one of the favorites entering the U. S. Open, found herself in a fight against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Thursday. Pliskova took advantage of Ivanovic's poor serve and 39 unforced errors to upset the eighth seed, 7-5 6-4.

In the first set, the tone of the day was set as Ivanovic struggled on her service games and yielded 16 unforced errors. Pliskova took full advantage with her big groundstrokes and won the set at 7-5.

As play continued, Ivanovic was unable to find her groove. However, midway through the second set, the Serb was able to pull even by attacking Pliskova with powerful groundstrokes. Despite struggling, it appeared as if the veteran might finally battle her way ahead in the set. But Ivanovic's difficulties holding serve proved to be too much to overcome and after dropping another service game, the Czech served out the set and match.

Ivanovic summed up her performance, “It was just really a bad day.” Despite a solid season, her best performance at a Grand Slam was a quarterfinal at the Australian Open. When asked about her results at majors, she responded, “This is exactly what I think I have to reassess. I had great lead-ups to every Grand Slam. I played a lot of matches and won a lot of matches. At the Grand Slams I just haven’t performed that well. “

Elsewhere Involving Top Seeds

Ivanovic was the sole casualty among the top-10 seeds of the women’s draw in action on Friday. Top-seeded Serena Williams cruised past American Vania King 6-1 6-0 in just 56 minutes. Despite a sub-par serving day that included five double faults, Williams overpowered King on her way to the third round.

With the wind playing a factor in Ashe Stadium, Williams was pleased with her performance. “It’s so hard playing in the wind, but I’m really happy to get through a solid match in the conditions today. You have to be able to adjust,” she said.

Wimbledon champion and third-seeded Petra Kvitova cruised past Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic behind her big serve. Kvitova placed 71 percent of her first serves in play, winning 75 percent of those points.

In the night session, seventh-seeded Eugenie Bouchard played crisp tennis early and then overcame adversity later to defeat Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-7 6-4.

After a fast start, Bouchard struggled with errors and was clearly unhappy with her play at times. Cirstea took full advantage, taking the second set in a tiebreak. The two traded punches in the third set, but it was the Canadian finding a break of service and serving out the match after taking some big shots off Cirstea's racket.

Bouchard struggled during the American hard-court swing but has strung back-to-back wins together at Flushing Meadows to advance to the third round.

Gibbs Guts out Big Win

American Nicole Gibbs won the biggest match of her young professional career with a victory over 23rd seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-7 6-3. Gibbs frustrated the Russian at times with her court coverage and profited from 54 unforced errors.

However, after taking the first set, things did become shaky late in the second set for the American. Gibbs, navigating through uncharted waters, showed nerves as she attempted to serve out the match. Pavlyuchenkova broke to even the set at 5-5. Gibbs returned the favor, breaking at love. But the former NCAA champion could not close out the match on her racket, and as play moved to a tiebreak, Pavlyuchenkova found enough to force a decisive third set.

A frustrated Gibbs, who earned entry via a wild card, was forced to regroup after the disappointment of the second set. She responded with a quick break. As the set progressed, once again, Gibbs served for the match. However, this time after a couple of dicey points, the young American closed out the match to advance to the third round. She will meet 11th-seeded Flavia Pennetta next.

Kanepi Completes Comeback, Eliminates Stosur

In certainly one of the best matches of the day, 2011 U. S. Open champion Sam Stosur looked to have the tide in her favor against Kaia Kanepi. However, Kanepi rallied to eliminate the 24th seed, 3-6 6-3 7-6.

Stosur dominated the first set but Kanepi returned the favor, darting to a 5-0 lead in the second before Stosur fought back. The Estonian held off the Aussie, and an epic third set unfolded. Both players left it all on the court in a set filled with ebbs and flows where each could only muster one break of the opponent’s serve. Appropriately, it would take a tiebreak to settle the match.

In the tiebreak, play went back and forth as each player looked to take advantage on their serve. With both competitors striking clutch shots, Kanepi finally gained the upper hand and closed out the match at 10-8 in the tiebreak. It is another early exit for Stosur, who fell to Victoria Duval last year in Flushing Meadows.

A clearly disappointed Stosur spoke afterwards, “I'm just really disappointed right now. It's one of those matches where you walk off and think `what just happened.’”

Bellis Comes up Short after Tremendous Run

Fifteen-year-old CiCi Bellis was back at it under the lights on court 17. The world No. 1208 thrilled the packed stadium but came up short to Zarina Diyas, 6-3 0-6 6-2.

The California native was slow out of the gate, losing a break early in the first set. However, with the full New York crowd wholeheartedly behind her, Bellis fought back with the exuberant energy one would expect from someone her age. But the teen sprayed too many unforced errors to overcome the deficit and lost the first set.

In the second set, Bellis seemed to quickly place the first set behind her, striking fearless, aggressive shots. She continually pressured Diyas throughout the set and recorded a bagel to force a deciding third set.

In the third set, Bellis easily held serve to go to 1-0. However, just as it seemed the youngster would continue to roll, the momentum swung dramatically in favor of Diyas, who won five straight games. Diyas lifted her game, while it appeared the 15-year-old may have suffered a minor injury and started to battle fatigue. And though she battled to the end, Bellis fell short to a 20-year-old who was pushed but came up with the big shots when needed.