But the 27-year-old soldiered on, staging a mini-comeback to pull to 3-4 before her Russian opponent finally salted away only her second win of the season. Shahar Peer beat Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-4, 6-1 and Italy’s 11th seed Flavia Pennetta putting out Australian Jelena Dokic 6-2, 6-2.
Kaia Kanepi beat Russian Vera Dushevina 6-1, 6-2. Another Russian fell as Italy’s Roberta Vinci defeated Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-3. Among winners on the first day were 10th seed Marion Bartoli of France, who scored a 7-6, 6-4 win over Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm. Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-4, 6-2.
Published 15 February 2011, 16:32 IST