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PARIS Feb 8: Sania Mirza of India broke sixth-seeded Flavia Pennetta three times enroute to 6-2, 7-6 (5) first-round victory at the Gaz de France on Tuesday. Mirza dropped only nine points on serve, but had to fight back in the second set from 5-2 down, saving a set point. The win over 16th-ranked Pennetta was her third against a top-20 player.
Tatiana Golovin broke Marta Domachowska of Poland in the final game to avoid a tiebreaker and seal a 6-0, 7-5 win, and ensure seven Frenchwomen in the second round.
“She started playing well in the second set and I had to work harder to stay focused and concentrated,” said Golovin.
Compatriot Virginie Razzano beat Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-1, and will next play defending champion Dinara Safina.
However, lucky loser Severine Bremond lost to Anna Smashnova of Israel 6-1, 6-2.
In other matches, Vera Dushevina of Russia beat Ivana Lisjak of Croatia 7-6 (4), 6-0 to set up a second-round encounter with Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo, who had a first-round bye; Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria advanced 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 over Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic; and Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues outlasted Italy’s Tathiana Garbin of Italy 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 and will play second-seeded Mary Pierce.
Tuesday first round results
Sania Mirza (IND) bt Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5); Tatiana Golovin (FRA) bt Marta Domachowska (POL) 6-0, 7-5; Anna Smashnova (ISR) bt Severine Bremond (FRA) 6-1, 6-2; Vera Douchevina (RUS) bt Ivana Lisjak (CRO) 7-6 (7/4), 6-0; Virginie Razzano (FRA) bt Kveta Peschke (CZE) 6-1, 6-1; Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE) 6-2, 2-6, 6-0; Anabel Medina (ESP) bt Tathiana Garbin (ITA) 6-3, 1-6, 7-5. Elena Dementieva (Russia) bt Sofia Arvidsson (Sweden) 6-2 6-2
Wednesday second round results
Emilie Loit (France) bt Stephanie Foretz (France) 6-0 6-3
PATTAYA (Thailand): Fourth-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel edged out Spanish veteran Maria Sanchez Lorenzo 7-6(4), 6-3 to become the first competitor to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the US$170,000 (euro142,000) Pattaya Women’s Open on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old Israeli, who is No. 45 in the WTA rankings, employed her solid baseline game to defeat the inconsistent Lorenzo in two hours in Thailand.
In later action, third-seeded Catalina Castano of Colombia beat Sun Tian-tian of China 6-3, 6-2, eliminating the last of the Chinese entrants in the competition.
Fifth-seeded Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain was briefly tested by Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak before advancing with a 7-5, 6-2 straight-set victory.
Results
Catalina Castano (Colombia) bt Tiantian Sun (China) 6-3 6-2; Lourdes Dominguez (Spain) bt Aiko Nakamura (Japan) 6-2 6-0; Shahar Peer (Israel) bt Maria Sanchez Lorenzo (Spain) 7-6(4) 6-3; Nuria Llagostera (Spain) bt Aleksandra Wozniak (Canada) 7-5 6-2.—Agencies
