Top seed starts week well; Erakovic wins on home courts

Top seed Elena Dementieva had a perfect start to her week in Auckland, as she beat her opponent in straight sets, while all of the three other seeds were also into the second round.

The Russian was at the top of her game on Tuesday, as she beat Chan Yung-Jan, 75 63. The other seed who won were No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki, who demolished qualifier Alberta Brianti 61 60, No. 7 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who also beat her opponent, qualifier Kristina Barrois, easily 63 61, and No. 8 seed Carla Suarez Navarro, who won to Nathalie Dechy 64 60.

Home player Marina Erakovic impressed her crowd with a straight sets win against Nuria Llagostera Vives, 75 64. Other winners of the day were Anne Keothavong, who beat wildcard Mirjana Lucic 64 62, Elena Vesnina, who demolished Aiko Nakamura 61 60, and qualifier Ayumi Morita, who beat Marta Domachowska in three sets, 64 46 64.


Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Singles - First Round
(1) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Chan Yung-Jan (TPE) 75 63
(2) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (Q) Alberta Brianti (ITA) 61 60
(7) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. (Q) Kristina Barrois (GER) 63 61
(8) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 64 60
Anne Keothavong (GBR) d. (WC) Mirjana Lucic (CRO) 64 62
Marina Erakovic (NZL) d. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 75 64
Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. (Q) Aiko Nakamura (JPN) 61 60
(Q) Ayumi Morita (JPN) d. Marta Domachowska (POL) 64 46 64