Osaka, Japan (My Sportsbook) - Francesca Schiavone of Italy was among the first-round winners Monday at the HP Japan Women's Open. The fourth-seeded Schiavone notched a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Anne Kremer of Luxembourg. A surprise quarterfinalist at Wimbledon, Schiavone has reached one final this year, losing to Sybille Bammer in July at the Prague Open. Seventh-seeded Melinda Czink of Hungary also advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Japanese wild card Ryoko Fuda, while a pair of seeded players were eliminated. India's Sania Mirza rallied past fifth-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Mathilde Johansson of France knocked off eighth-seeded Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5. Two other winners Monday were Britain's Katie O'Brien and Viktoriya Kutuzova of the Ukraine. O'Brien dumped American Alexa Glatch, 6-3, 6-4, and Kutuzova advanced when Russia's Maria Kirilenko retired after the first set. Kutuzova was ahead 6-2 when Kirilenko called it quits with a knee injury. The first round continues Tuesday with the top three seeds in action. Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki is the top seed and will face Japan's Ayumi Morita. The second-seeded Marion Bartoli of France will take on Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva, while the third-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia will meet China's Peng Shaui. This week's winner will collect a first prize of $37,000. |
