INDIAN WELLS (California), March 8: Russia’s Maria Sharapova will be battling to retain her world No. 1 ranking as well as her title in the women's draw of the 5.385 Pacific Life Open that started here on Wednesday.

While top-seeded Sharapova enjoyed a first-round bye, Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands booked a shot at the Russian glamour-girl on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson.

Among other players jockeying for position in the first round on Wednesday, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki booked a clash with third-seeded Martina Hingis of Switzerland.

Wozniacki defeated Slovakia's Jarmila Gajdosova 6-3, 6-1 to set up the meeting with Hingis, the former world No. 1 who won this title in 1998.

Results (x denotes seeded player):

Women

First round: Mirjana Lucic (CRO) bt Lindsey Nelson (US) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5); Nathalie Dechy (FRA) bt Chan Yung-Jan (TPE) 7-6 (7/2), 6-1; Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) bt Jarmila Gajdosova (SVK) 6-3, 6-1; Jill Craybas (US) bt Maria Elena Camerin (ITA) 6-1, 7-5; Shenay Perry (US) bt Galina Voskoboeva (RUS) 6-3, 6-2; Meilen Tu (US) bt Tatiana Poutchek (BLR) 6-3, 6-2; Nicole Pratt (AUS) bt Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3; Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) bt Anna Tatishvili (GEO) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3; Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Emilie Loit (FRA) 7-5, 6-3; Michaella Krajicek (NED) bt Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 6-4, 6-3; Sun Tiantian (CHN) bt Karolina Sprem (CRO) 6-4, 7-6 (7/1); Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) bt Eva Birnerova (CZE) 6-0, 6-4; Martina Sucha (SVK) bt Yuliana Fedak (UKR) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; Alberta Brianti (ITA) bt Olga Savchuk (UKR) 6-2, 6-4; Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) bt Alina Jidkova (RUS) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Kaia Kanepi (EST) bt Kristina Brandi (PUR) 3-6, 7-5, 6-0. –AFP