Top seed powers through to second round along with sixth seed; No. 3 seed ousted in straight sets on Day 1 in Portoroz

The first hard court tournament of the hard court season has started, the Banka Koper Slovenia Open in Portoroz, Slovenia, and No. 1 in the world Dinara Safina, who is the No. 1 seed, cruised through her first round match against a wildcard, while No. 3 seed Kaia Kanepi was ousted in easy straight sets.

Safina crushed her opponent in the first set of the match, but then Tadeja Majeric built her game to a higher level, which made it harder for the Russian. Eventually Safina won the match, 60 64.

Kanepi was no challenge for Olga Govortsova, as the Estonian was in awful shape, and lost the match with a score of 61 62.

No. 6 seed Lucie Safarova, who was the lowest seed playing on Day 1, battled against Katie O'Brien, and won her debut match with a score of 64 64.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Singles - First Round

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (WC) Tadeja Majeric (SLO) 60 64

Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. (3) Kaia Kanepi (EST) 61 62

(6) Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Katie O'Brien (GBR) 64 64

Rossana de los Ríos (PAR) d. Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) 57 64 76(6)

Klara Zakopalova (CZE) d. Masa Zec Peskiric (SLO) 62 64

(WC) Petra Martic (CRO) d. Kristina Barrois (GER) 63 64