Russia's Maria Kirilenko upset eighth-seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-2 on the opening day of the Zurich Open Monday.
There was little to separate Kirilenko and Hantuchova in the first set of a match that rarely rose above the ordinary, as many of the games were closely fought.
After breaks in the first two games, Hantuchova fought off five more break points until, with the Slovak leading 5-4, both players called for a medical time-out.
When play resumed, Kirilenko claimed the next five games to take the opening set and lead 2-0 in the second. Hantuchova then broke to level at 2-2, but the more aggressive Kirilenko swept the final four games to clinch her one hour 50-minute victory.
"Always the first round is difficult to play and I'm very happy that I beat her," said Kirilenko.
"I just tried to move her on the baseline, and I know she can hit a few balls and then make a mistake or a winner so I tried to keep the ball in play and when I had a chance for myself I took it."
In Monday's other matches, 2006 Wimbledon winner Mauresmo of France continued to struggle as she was beaten 6-2, 6-1 by Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, and Alize Cornet, also of France, was edged out 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) by Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko.
Source: Xinhua
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