Olga Scores Upset In Budapest Opener

Unseeded Ukrainian Olga Savchuk dispatched No.8 seed Evgeniya Rodina in the first round of the POLI-FARBE Budapest Grand Prix.

Published July 04, 2011 04:50

Olga Scores Upset In Budapest Opener
Olga Savchuk

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Four singles seeds were in action on Day 1of the International-level POLI-FARBE Budapest Grand Prix and three advanced, the exception being eighth-seeded Evgeniya Rodina, who was beaten by Ukraine's Olga Savchuk.

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While Rodina made the better start, making 70% of first serves and converting three of eight break points on her opponent's serve to take the opening set, the Russian required treatment for a right elbow injury. Savchuk duly leveled before cruising to victory - despite breathing difficulties that also required attention - with a 36 61 61 scoreline.

No such trouble for the tournament's No.3 seed, Klara Zakopalova, who raced past China's Han Xinyun, 60 62. Although she let Anastasia Pivovarova steal back a break of serve at the end of their match, fifth seed Anabel Medina Garrigues also advanced with ease, 63 61. Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu, seeded seventh, edged Spain's Laura Pous-Tio, 64 64.

In unseeded action, young Croat Ajla Tomljanovic beat Hungarian wildcard Vanda Lukacs, 62 62, and in the last match of the day, Alona Bondarenko continued her return from injury with a 54 minute win over the Czech Republic's Sandra Zahlavova, 60 61.

Main draw berths were secured by Lenka Jurikova, Estrella Cabeza Candela, Aleksandra Krunic and Reka-Luca Jani, who all won their final round qualifying matches. Cabeza Candela's victim, Anna Remondina of Italy, later gained a pass as a lucky loser, after Ksenia Pervak pulled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury. Remondina meets Hungarian teenager Timea Babos, a wildcard, in the first round on Tuesday.

Also on Monday, first round doubles action saw No.2 seeds Natalie Grandin and Vladimira Uhlirova beat Irina-Camelia Begu and Jessica Moore, 62 64. Mariya Koryttseva and Ioana Raluca Olaru also advanced in straight sets at the expense of Daniella Dominikovic and Sophie Lefèvre, 64 63.

Top-seeded Italian Roberta Vinci plays her first round match at the $220,000 event on Tuesday.

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