Jankovic suffers first-round defeat

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:59

The Serbian, ranked eighth in the world, will be hoping for much better at the Australian Open starting next week after world number 40 Szavay triumphed 5-7 6-1 7-5 in a match lasting two hours and 37 minutes.

Fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki was also dumped out at the first hurdle by China’s Na Li, who beat the Dane 2-6 6-3 6-2, while eighth seed Vera Zvonareva was forced to quit her match against fellow Russian Elena Vesnina at 3-3 in the first set.

Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm caused another shock as she knocked out world number 20 Nadia Petrova 6-3 5-7 6-4. The 39-year-old rolled back the years and demonstrated her stamina in a match lasting two hours and 14 minutes.

Home favourite Samantha Stosur lost 6-3 6-1 to Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, and world number 10 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat American qualifier Jill Craybas 6-0 6-4.

Sixth seed Victoria Azarenka from Belarus overcame Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 3-6 6-2 7-5.

In the men’s event, Richard Gasquet continued his build-up to the Australian Open with a straightforward 6-1 6-4 first-round victory over Feliciano Lopez.

World number 53 Gasquet, who lost to eventual winner Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International last week, saved all three break points he faced en route to his win.

Marcos Baghdatis beat Australian wild card Nick Lindahl 6-2 7-5, while Andreas Seppi set up a meeting with fourth seed and home favourite Lleyton Hewitt with a 6-4 6-4 win over local qualifier Marinko Matosevic. Qualifier Leonardo Mayer of Argentina edged past seventh seed Igor Andreev 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 7-6 (7-4).

French star Gael Monfils has been forced to pull out of this event with a right shoulder injury and could be a doubt for the season’s first grand slam in Melbourne.

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