Shrugging off her average outing at the Hopman Cup, Sania Mirza started her campaign at the USD 1,70,000 Moorilla Hobart International with a convincing straight set victory over unheralded Lourdes Dominguez here on Monday.
The sixth-seed Indian beat the Spaniard qualifier 6-4, 6-0 to advance to the second round of the Tier IV hard court event. Sania next faces ‘Lucky Loser’ Russian Alla Kudryavtseva, who beat local challenge Monique Adamczak 6-3, 6-2.
Meanwhile in Sydney, Leander Paes had a bad day in the office as the doubles ace, in his first appearance with Australian Paul Hanley, crashed out of the USD 4,65,000 Medibank International.
Paes-Hanley lost to the fourth-seed Czech pair of Martin Damm — former partner of the Indian ace — and Pavel Vizner 6-7 (5), 4-6 in the first round.
Another Indian in the fray, Mahesh Bhupathi has paired with Mark Knowles and they would open his campaign against Czech pair of Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych.
Blake ousted
American James Blake lost his chance to equal a 68-year record when he was knocked out of the Sydney International on Monday by Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, adds Reuters from Sydney.
Third-seed Blake had been bidding to win the title for the third year running, a feat last achieved in 1940 by the late John Bromwich, but was beaten 7-6, 6-2.
Santoro, 35, is one of the oldest players on the men's tour but says he has lost none of his enthusiasm for the sport.
Top seed Richard Gasquet brushed past Russian Igor Andreev 6-3, 7-6 while Sebastien Grosjean beat Australian wildcard Peter Luczak 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
With the top four seeds, headed by world number one Justine Henin, all given first round byes, there were no major casualties in the early women's matches although fifth-seeded Russian teenager Anna Chakvetadze suffered a surprise loss to Slovakian Katarina Srebotnik 7-5, 6-1.
Sixth seed Daniela Hantuchova, also of Slovakia, almost came unstuck in her clash with Russian Dinara Safina when she dropped the opening set and trailed by a service break in the second before recovering to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli completed a perfect first day for the French with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Italian Karin Knapp.
Chela wins
Second seed Juan Ignacio Chela had to overcome a one-set deficit and a break down in the third set to local wildcard Dan King-Turner before he advanced to the second round of the Auckland Open on Monday, adds Reuters.
Vaidisova through
Nicole Vaidisova  of Czeh Republic defeated  Camille Pin of France 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 in the Sydney International tennis tournament,adds Reuters.
 Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden meanwhile shocked eighth seed -Elena Dementieva of Russia 6-1 7-5.