Kournikova back to winning ways

SHANGHAI, China (Ticker) -- Top seed Anna Smashnova of Israel and fourth-seeded Anna Kournikova of Russia were among the winners in the first round of the $140,000 SVW Polo Open on Tuesday.

Smashnova, seeking her third title of the season, overcame a shaky start and defeated Chinese wild card Tian Tian Sun, 1-6, 6-0, 6-0. Smashnova last won at Vienna in June, when she beat Iroda Tulyagnova of Uzbekistan in the final.

Kournikova is seeking her first career title and moved into the second round of this Tier IV hardcourt event with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Australian Mireille Dittmann. Kournikova beat Smashnova in the quarterfinals of the Acura Classic in July, but lost in the first round of each of the four Grand Slam events this year.

Third seed Clarisa Fernandez of Argentina, a surprise semifinalist at the French Open, cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Janet Lee of Tapei on Tuesday. No. 5 Adriana Zanetti and her sister Antonella both were victorious Tuesday. Adriana ousted Chinese qualifier Yan-Ze Xie, 6-2, 6-1, and Antonella beat Chinese qualifier Ying Yu by the same score.

Seventh-seeded Angelique Widjaja of Indonesia beat Chinese qualifier Zi Yan, 6-4, 6-3 and No. 8 Silvija Talaja routed another Chinese qualifier, Jie Hao, 6-0, 6-1. Talaja's countrywoman, Jelena Kostanic, ousted Spain's Marta Marrero, 6-4, 6-4.

Japan's Miho Saeki recorded the first upset, posting a 6-3, 6-3 win over Austrian sixth seed Patricia Wartusch.

Korea's Yoon Jeong Cho overcame Japan's Sinobu Asagoe 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 and Hungarian Petra Mandula defeated lucky loser Trudi Musgrave of Australia, 7-5, 6-1.

Lucky loser Ayami Takase moved on with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Korean Mi Ra Jeon.

 

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