OSAKA, Japan - All four seeded players in first round action on Day 2 of the HP Open were victorious in straight sets, including one who needs every match win she can get for a shot at qualifying for the Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2009.
Second-seeded Marion Bartoli defeated Galina Voskoboeva, 63 75, the fourth time in their four career match-ups that the Frenchwoman was victorious in straight sets. However, it was not easy this time, as Bartoli had to rally from a two-break, 5-2 deficit in the second set to secure the win.
Bartoli is vying with Jelena Jankovic, Vera Zvonareva, Agnieszka Radwanska and Flavia Pennetta for the eighth and final spot in the field for Doha, with the only Sony Ericsson WTA Tour events left before then being this week in Osaka and Linz and next week in Moscow and Luxembourg.
Other seeded winners Tuesday were top seed Caroline Wozniacki, No.3 seed Samantha Stosur and No.6 seed Aleksandra Wozniak. Among the unseeded match-ups, Jill Craybas edged wildcard Kimiko Date Krumm, 62 26 64. Date Krumm, a four-time champion at this event, was victorious in Seoul last month for her first Tour singles title since 1996 and the first of her comeback that began in April of last year.
Bartoli, fourth-seeded Francesca Schiavone and seventh-seeded Melinda Czink are among those in second round action Wednesday.
