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| February 8, 2006 | Wednesday | Muharram 9, 1427 |
Shock first round exit for top seed
PATTAYA (Thailand), Feb 7: Russia’s Vera Zvonareva and Anastassia Rodionova crashed to dramatic defeats in the first round of the Pattaya Open on Tuesday.
Top-seeded Zvonareva, once ranked in the top 10 before slumping to 42 at the end of last season, received a warning for racquet abuse as she was beaten 6-1, 6-3 by Paola Suarez.
Rodionova was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct as third seed Catalina Castano claimed a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Suarez, who recently returned to the tour following a six-month absence during which she underwent hip surgery, was playing only her second singles match since Roland Garros.
But she took advantage of her struggling opponent, who hit 12 double-faults and failed to hold serve until the Argentine was leading by a set and 5-2.
Zvonareva was close to tears as she made a succession of unforced errors, and was unable to respond as Suarez hit several spectacular winners down the line.
Suarez admitted she was distracted by the antics of Rodionova on an adjacent court, as the Russian became almost hysterical at times, constantly disputing calls, walking to her chair and twice refusing to play on until the referee was called to the court.
Rodionova was booed by the crowd for her delaying tactics, and Castano was pleased with the way she managed to handle all the interruptions.
Sixth seed Zheng Jie of China was swept aside by Hungary’s Melinda Czink, but eighth-seeded Marta Santangelo dismissed American qualifier Vania King 6-3, 6-1.
Results:
First round: Sybille Bammer (AUT) bt Suchanan Viratprasert (THA) 6-3, 6-3; Paola Suarez (ARG) bt Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 6-1, 6-3; Ekaterina Bychkova (RUS) bt Henrieta Nagyova (SVK) 6-1, 7-5; Melina Czink (HUN) bt Jie Zheng (CHN) 6-0, 6-2; Catalina Castano (COL) bt Anastassia Rodionova (RUS) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2; Tiantian Sun (CHN) bt Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 6-3, 6-2; Jelena Kostanic (CRO) bt Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 6-1, 6-3; Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) bt Na Li (CHN) 6-3, 6-1; Marta Santangelo (ITA) bt Vania King (USA) 6-3, 6-1
Safina cruises
PARIS, Feb 7: Defending champion Dinara Safina of Russia thrashed compatriot Anna Chakvetadze 6-2 6-1 to ease into the second round of the Paris Open on Monday.
Absent from the Australian Open because of breathing problems, the 19-year-old Safina appeared to be back to the form that gave her victory over local favourite Amelie Mauresmo in last year’s Paris final.
Mauresmo, returning to action after her maiden grand slam victory in Melbourne last month, was given a first-round bye and will play her opening match of the tournament on Wednesday or Thursday.
French wildcard players, Emilie Loit and Stephanie Foretz reached the last 16.
Foretz claimed the scalp of German eighth-seed Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-1 1-6 6-0, while Loit demolished Italy’s Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-1. The French pair will face each other in the next round.
Results:
First round: Stephanie Foretz (FRA) bt Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 6-1, 1-6, 6-0; Emilie Loit (FRA) bt Roberta Vinci (ITA) 6-2, 6-1; Dinara Safina (RUS) bat Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 6-2, 6-1.—Agencies
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