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The Sports Network TSN
Osaka, Japan (Sports Network) - Marion Bartoli was among the first-round
winners Monday at the HP Japan Women's Open.
The second-seeded Bartoli cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Hungary's Melinda
Czink. The Frenchwoman entered this tournament as a wild card with hopes to
qualify for the season-ending WTA Championships later this month.
It's been a solid year for the 10th-ranked Bartoli, as she won in Eastbourne
and reached finals at Indian Wells, Strasbourg and Stanford. She also had a
semifinal appearance at the French Open and a quarterfinal showing at
Wimbledon.
However, anything short of a title this week will likely keep her out of the
eight-woman field at Istanbul.
Also winning Monday was seventh-seeded Chanelle Scheepers, who captured her
first WTA title last month in Guangzhou. The South African was a second-round
loser last week in Beijing and on Monday rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over
Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia.
American Christine McHale, this week's eighth seed, was sent home early with a
6-3, 7-5 setback at the hands of reigning Osaka titlist Tamarine Tanasugarn.
The Thai veteran Tanasugarn upset Japanese favorite Kimiko Date-Krumm in last
year's finale here.
Two other Americans were also shown early exits on Monday. Japan's Misaki Doi
thrilled the home crowd with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Coco Vandeweghe and France's
Mathilde Johansson thumped Irina Falconi, 6-3, 6-2.
Greek veteran Eleni Daniilidou also advanced Monday with a 6-2, 6-2 win over
Russian Anastasia Pivovarova.
This year's tournament is headed by reigning U.S. Open champion Samantha
Stosur. The top-seeded Australian won this tournament two years ago for her
first career WTA title.
She has struggled since capturing her first Grand Slam championship last month
at Flushing Meadows, suffering second-round losses to Maria Kirilenko in both
Tokyo and Beijing. Kirilenko is not entered this week and Stosur's first-round
match will take place Tuesday against Thai qualifier Noppawan Lertcheewakarn.
This week's Osaka champion will take home a first prize of $37,000.
The Sports Network