February 14, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 15, 1427

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BANGALORE (India), Feb 13: Fifth-seeded Aiko Nakamura of Japan crashed out of the US$175,000 (euro145,800) WTA Indian Open tennis tournament, losing to Mariya Koryttseva of Ukraine on Monday.

After losing the first set, Koryttseva managed to stretch the match to the third set, as the 65th-ranked Nakamura made several errors.

Seventh-seeded Russian Elena Vesnina also bowed out on the opening day. Australia’s Nicole Pratt spiked Vesnina 6-3, 6-4.

A late surge saw Vesnina make a service break to draw 4-4 level in the second set, but Pratt tightened her game to emerge the winner.

The battle between sisters Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine was a see-saw affair, finally clinched by Alona 7-5, 6-4.

Camille Pin of France advanced to the second round by defeating Indonesia’s Angelique Widjaja 6-4, 6-0, while Hungary’s Melinda Czink outplayed India’s wild card entry Rushmi Chakravarthi 6-1, 6-2.

Results:

Alona Bondarenko (UKR) bt Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 6-4, 7-5; Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) bt Aiko Nakamura (JPN) 0-6, 6-3, 6-3; Melinda Czink (HUN) bt Rushmi Chakravarthi (IND) 6-1, 6-2;Camille Pin (FRA) bt Angelique Widjaja (INA) 6-4, 6-0; Nicole Pratt (AUS) bt Elena Vesnina (RUS) 6-3, 6-4.—Agencies