PALERMO, Italy - Flavia Pennetta cruised past Arantxa Parra Santonja, 62 63, in first round action Tuesday at the Internazionali Femminili di Tennis di Palermo. The No.1 seed has not dropped a set in four career matches against the Spaniard.

Although she has yet to win this title, Pennetta has an impressive history here, highlighted by a runner-up showing in 2004 and semifinal appearances in 2005 and 2008. She is looking for her seventh Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title but first this year and will play another Italian, Roberta Vinci, in the round of 16.

Third-seeded Alizé Cornet was eliminated Tuesday, but it was hardly a surprise, given that her conqueror, María José Martínez Sánchez, was the champion in Bastad last week. The Spaniard's 62 62 win puts her in the second round against Tathiana Garbin, who edged Edina Gallovits, 64 75, to raise her record in their series to 2-1. The Italian was a runner-up here in 2006.

No.5 seed Sara Errani won, 64 64, against the woman she defeated in last year's final here, Mariya Koryttseva, the Italian's third victory in their four career match-ups. She will next play Patricia Mayr, who defeated qualifier Olga Savchuk, 64 64. Sixth-seeded Ekaterina Makarova, a finalist in Fès and Estoril this year, handled Jill Craybas, 63 61. Anna-Lena Groenefeld got revenge for her second round loss in Roland Garros against Gisela Dulko with a 64 61 win over the No.8 seed to set up a second round encounter with qualifier Arantxa Rus, a 76(3) 64 winner over Anna Floris. Also Tuesday, Nuria Llagostera Vives edged Masa Zec Peskiric, 36 64 62, and Yaroslava Shvedova topped Nathalie Vierin, 63 62.

Wednesday's play is highlighted by Pennetta against Vinci, No.2 seed Patty Schnyder versus qualifier Anastasia Pivovarova, Martínez Sánchez against Garbin, Makarova versus Olga Govortsova and No.7 seed Aravane Rezai against Varvara Lepchenko.