Seeds Perfect In Round 1
Published July 06, 2010 12:00
BUDAPEST, Hungary - All seven seeds in action Tuesday at the GDF Suez Grand Prix, including top-seeded Alisa Kleybanova, were victorious as the first round wrapped up.
By moving into the round of 16 with her 75 64 defeat of Sesil Karatantcheva, Kleybanova has gone further than at any event since her quarterfinal showing at Indian Wells in March. It was not easy, though, as Karatantcheva served for the first set at 5-4 before the Russian reeled off three straight games to take the set and seize control of the match. Kleybanova, who is now 2-1 all-time against Karatantcheva, next faces last year's runner-up here, Patty Schnyder.
No.2 seed Alexandra Dulgheru also showed few ill effects of the transfer from grass to clay, routing Sandra Zahlavova, 62 63.
"It was not easy to play on clay after coming from grass," said Dulgheru, who next takes on Anna Chakvetadze. "First matches are always a bit more difficult, but I just tried to play my game.
"There are many good players here. I will try to get used to clay again and recover from the tough season on grass and try to go as far as I can."
Also advancing were No.3 seed Timea Bacsinszky, No.4 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues, No.6 seed Roberta Vinci, last year's champion - No.7 seed Agnes Szavay - and No.8 seed Polona Hercog. Medina Garrigues was the only seed to even drop a set. Vinci raised her career record to 6-4 against fellow Italian Tathiana Garbin.
Kleybanova and Dulgheru are among those who have second round matches scheduled for Wednesday.
