HOBART, Australia - Anna Chakvetadze showed signs of the form that saw her get as high as No.5 in the world in 2007 in beating No.3 seed Monica Niculescu on Sunday in the first round of the Moorilla Hobart International.

Currently ranked No. 234 after a season marred by an inner ear inflammation that caused dizziness, Chakvetadze was playing her first match since Wimbledon last year. She raced out to a 60 41 lead before Niculescu rallied to 4-4 and then the Russian seized back control for the 60 64 victory. This was not the first of her fond memories here, as Chakvetadze won the title in 2007.

Another seed also was sent home, as Sorana Cirstea was a 62 76(6) winner over No.7 seed Ksenia Pervak. The second set featured no breaks and a set point for Pervak at 6-5 in the tie-break, but Cirstea prevailed.

Fellow Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu was the lone seeded winner, as the No.8 seed beat Elena Baltacha, 62 75. Also advancing were yet another Romanian, Simona Halep, and Australian wildcard Anastasia Rodionova. Halep survived Klara Zakopalova, 46 62 75, and Rodionova edged Greta Arn, 64 75, to take a 5-1 lead in the career series.

Securing main draw berths with triumphs in the final round of qualifying were Mona Barthel, Romina Oprandi, Heather Watson and Sacha Jones.

Among those in first round action Tuesday are defending champion Jarmila Gajdosova and No.1 seed Yanina Wickmayer.

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