Russia's Maria Kirilenko upset eighth-seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-2 on the opening day of the Zurich Open on Monday, as former world No 1 Amelie Mauresmo crashed out.
Maria Kirilenko of Russia returns the ball to Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia during their first-round match at the Zurich Open in Zurich on 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 and play went to deuce 16 times.
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."
While calling for medical attention benefited Kirilenko, it had the opposite effect on Hantuchova.
"At 4-4 I started to feel pain in the knee, so when she got the physio I said okay, I will also call," said Kirilenko.
"After that I think she lost a little bit concentration. She missed eight balls in a row, big outs, so maybe for her the physio wasn't so good."
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.
Meanwhile, new world No 2 Dinara Safina has admitted she misunderstood player commitment rules for 2009 after stating last week that players were considering a tournament boycott next season.
She was under the impression that the rules meant many Russian players would be unable to compete in Moscow.
"Dinara was misinformed when she stated that the Kremlin Cup in Moscow was going to have a limited player commitment in 2009," said WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott.
"It is in fact one of five tournaments which falls the week immediately before a Grand Slam or the Sony Ericsson Championships that will have unlimited player commitment, meaning any number of top 10 players can play the event. We have since spoken with Dinara and clarified this detail."
Safina accepts she was confused about the rule, but insists there are still other matters to resolve.
"I was given the wrong information and now understand that the Kremlin Cup in Moscow can receive an unlimited number of top players," said the Russian.
"I support the direction the Tour is taking - especially as it relates to steps taken to create a healthier calendar for top players - though I of course want to wait and see how the Roadmap develops before coming to final opinions on the many reforms that will part of the new system.
"I do hope that I and other top players will have an opportunity to sit with the Tour leadership in the coming weeks to discuss certain elements of the Roadmap where I think there is still room for improvement."
Source: China Daily/Agencies
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