Two seeds advance, while three seeds fall at Brisbane on Day 2

In Brisbane, two seeds achieved their spaces in the second round, while three other seeds were demolished on Monday.

The highest seed to fall was No. 4 seed Daniela Hantuchova, who lost to Sara Errani, 67(1) 64 60. The other seeds who fell were No. 8 seed Francesca Schiavone, who was defeated by Olga Govortsova, 75 62; and and No. 9 seed Ai Sugiyama, who was kicked out of the tournament by Samantha Stosur in straight sets, 62 63.

The advancing seeds were top seed Ana Ivanovic, who easily won to Petra Kvitova 64 62, and No. 5 seed Amelie Mauresmo, who won a tough battle against Jelena Dokic, 76(9) 76(5).

"It was a tricky match for me since it was the first match of the season and she already had a few under her belt in Melbourne," Mauresmo said. "She was Top 5 before and the strokes are still there, you can see that.

"I was very happy with my serve and the couple of things I have been working on during the off season with my new coach (Hugo Le Cocq), but a few other things weren't so great," the former world No.1 added.

Other winners of the day were Tathiana Garbin, who won to Sofia Arvidsson 62 63, qualifier Roberta Vinci, who won to qualifier Anna-Lena Groenefeld 06 63 61, Lucie Safarova, who beat wildcard Isabella Holland 64 63, qualifier Melinda Czink, who beat Alona Bondarenko 76(3) 61, qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva, who beat Iveta Benesova 16 64 62, and lucky loser Julie Coin, who battled to win against Yanina Wickmayer 75 76(5) 76(3).


Monday, January 5, 2009

Singles - First Round
(1) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 64 62
Sara Errani (ITA) d. (4) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 67(1) 64 60
(5) Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) d. (WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) 76(9) 76(5)
Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. (8) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 75 62
Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. (9) Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 62 63
Tathiana Garbin (ITA) d. Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 62 63
Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. (WC) Isabella Holland (AUS) 64 63
(Q) Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. (Q) Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 06 63 61
(Q) Melinda Czink (HUN) d. Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 76(3) 61
(Q) Sesil Karatantcheva (BUL) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 16 64 62
(LL) Julie Coin (FRA) d. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 75 67(5) 76(3)