Ivanovic enjoys winning start

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:11

The 21-year-old Serbian, who enjoyed a spell at the top of the rankings in 2008 before ending the year in fifth, was too strong for her Czech opponent and ran out a comfortable 6-4 6-2 winner.

Meanwhile, Daniela Hantuchova was one of three seeds to crash out after losing to Italy’s Sara Errani.

The tall Slovakian, seeded number four, started well but then collapsed to a 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 6-0 defeat.

Eighth seed Francesca Schiavone and ninth seed Ai Sugiyama also lost, Schiavone going down 7-5 6-2 to Olga Govortsova from Belarus and veteran Japanese Sugiyama falling 6-2 6-3 to home favourite Sam Stosur.

Stosur, ranked 52nd in the world, was due to play Russian Maria Kirilenko in the opening round before the seventh seed withdrew due to illness.

Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo is through, although she was pushed all the way by the returning Jelena Dokic.

Dokic, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2000, battled hard but the Frenchwoman prevailed 7-6 (11/9) 7-6 (7/5).

There were also wins for Tathiana Garbin and Lucie Safarova.

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