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ROME -- Tenth-seeded Vera Zvonareva extended her impressive streak of clay-court victories, cruising past Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 6-3 Monday in the first round of the Italian Open.
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Zvonareva won the Prague Open earlier this month after losing to Serena Williams in the final at Charleston in her previous tournament. In between, Zvonareva posted a three-set win over Vania King on clay to clinch victory for Russia in the Fed Cup semifinals against the United States.
Zvonareva improved to 32-7 overall this year.
Also Monday, 11th-seeded Agnes Szavay routed Yan Zi 6-1, 6-1 to advance on an overcast day at the Foro Italico. Virginie Razzano easily defeated Julia Vakulenko 6-1, 6-2, while Virginia Ruano Pascual eliminated Anastasia Rodionova 6-1, 6-3.
Samantha Stosur marked her return to the WTA Tour with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 42nd-ranked Michaella Krajicek. Stosur, a former doubles No. 1, had been out for several months due to illness. She next will face seventh-seeded Venus Williams.
Two-time Rome champion Amelie Mauresmo is missing the tournament with a rib injury. Top-ranked Justine Henin also pulled out, citing fatigue, and Dinara Safina withdrew due to a back injury Monday, one day after winning the German Open.
Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova are seeded No. 1 and No. 2. The top eight seeded players have first-round byes in the tournament, an important clay-court warmup for the French Open.
