Top seed Anabel Medina Garrigues got her 2010 Moorilla Hobart International campaign off to a great start today defeating Iveta Benesova.
In a closely fought match, not reflected on the scoreboard, Medina Garrigues was too strong for Benesova, last year’s Moorilla Hobart International runner-up, winning 7-5 6-3.
“The first round always is tough … the last time that I played against her (Benesova) I lost it, so I was a little nervous about the match … I was trying to move out my legs and be close to the ball,” Medina Garrigues said.
“Here (in Hobart) there’s a little wind, so if you are not so confident with your tennis, playing with wind is not easy, but today I felt good … I’m really happy to win the first round.”
On Court 1 No.6 seed Aleksandra Wozniak recorded a comfortable win over Magdalena Rybarikova, 6-3 6-1, in just over one hour.
Back on Centre Court fourth seed Alona Bondarenko progressed to the second round with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Sybille Bammer.
Kateryna Bondarenko was the final player through to the second round, defeating Lucie Safarova.
Bondarenko won the first set comfortably 6-2 however, the match was sent to a deciding third set when Safarova won a second set tiebreak. Up 3-2 in the final set Bondarenko was dealt a reprieve when Safarova was forced to retire from the match suffering a strained pectoral muscle.
Main draw action continues tomorrow with Aussies Alicia Molik, Jelena Dokic, Olivia Rogowska and Sophie Ferguson in action.