Speedy Vinci races into third round at U.S. Open

By Steve Keating

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Seventh seed Roberta Vinci will not catch anyone by surprise with a run to the U.S. Open final like she did a year ago but the Italian continued to raise eyebrows on Wednesday with a speedy win over Christina McHale.

Pennetta, who was unseeded last year when she lost in the final to compatriot Flavia Pennetta, has offered early signs that a return trip could be in the offing as she raced into the third round with a 6-1 6-3 win over American McHale.

The straight-forward victory, which Vinci wrapped up in 63 minutes, followed a clinical first round win over Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam that took 68 minutes.

Vinci, 33, will next face either Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva or Germany’s Carina Witthoeft.

(Editing by Frank Pingue)