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Bychkova knocks out Patty Schnyder

Nicole Vaidisova returns a backhand to opponent Aravane Rezai during their match in Paris on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

Russian qualifier Ekaterina Bychkova scored the biggest win of her life on Tuesday in knocking out sixth seed Patty Schnyder in the first round of the US$600,000 Paris Indoor Open.

The world No. 100 fought back from a set down to beat the world No. 11 Swiss 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Nerves briefly got to Bychkova in the final set when leading 3-0 as she lost the next three games. But she raised her level again to send Schnyder packing.

"I just can't believe it. I fought as hard as I could and played each point as it came," the 21-year-old said.

Earlier, teenage sensation Nicole Vaidisova thrashed home favorite Aravane Rezai to stride into the second round.

Vaidisova needed just 50 minutes to wrap up a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 victory that was sealed in style with a searing ace.

The 17-year-old Czech, who started the season in fine form with a run to the semi-finals of the Australian Open, simply had too much power for 19-year-old Rezai.

"I played very well today, I kept very focused the whole time," Vaidisova said. "I've definitely had a great start this year and came here feeling very good."

The only previous meeting between the pair took place at last season's Roland Garros and Rezai benefited from the slower surface to force a third set before going down 6-1, 6-7, 6-0.

But on the faster indoor surface, the wildly erratic Rezai had no answer to Vaidisova's consistent power and booming serves.

"She has had some good results recently. I'm not trying to find excuses but she played very well and I couldn't find my game," Rezai admitted.

The Czech next faces compatriot Lucie Safarova who gained a measure of revenge on teenage Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova with a tough 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 first round victory.

A year ago the pair also met in the first round, their only previous meeting, with Pironkova dominating the final set for a 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 victory.

This match ebbed and flowed with break points aplenty despite only two being converted throughout the match.

Pironkova had ample opportunities to take a decisive advantage early in the third set but having wasted several chances, the Bulgarian was broken at 2-3 and Czech Safarova comfortably served out the match.

With her confidence high, she even pulled off a delightful drop shot on match point.

Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy won through to a clash with second seeded compatriot Amelie Mauresmo as she cruised to victory in her first round match.

Dechy eased past Italy's Tathiana Garbin 6-2, 6-3 before paying tribute to the affect of her new Dutch coach Martijn Bok, who she has been working with since the Australian Open.

"I have worked well with him over the last two weeks and I feel more solid now," said Dechy, who bombed out in the first round in Melbourne against Martina Hingis, winning just two games.

This was her first win of the season.

"I don't know why I played badly in Australia but this was a good return to form and I'm happy with it," she said.

In other early matches, Germany's Martina Muller dropped just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Polish qualifier Agnieszka Radwanska to earn a second round meeting with fourth seeded Russian Nadia Petrova.

Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik crushed France's Stephanie Cohen-Aloro to set up a second round tie against third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.

Pattaya Open

Australian veteran Nicole Pratt claimed a thrilling three-set win over second seed Maria Kirilenko from Russia in the opening round of the Pattaya Open on Tuesday.

Pratt had won their previous two encounters but Tuesday's match was a nailbiting affair before the Australian eventually emerged with the 7-6 (7/1), 2-6, 7-5 victory.

Pratt put her opponent under pressure right from the start, breaking to lead 2-1. Kirilenko managed to level 3-3 and then pushed Pratt to a tiebreak which the Australian dominated, hitting a sizzling crosscourt winner to take the set.

Kirilenko responded by controlling the second set, hitting fine forehands and mixing up her game with some well-struck dropshots, as she raced to a 4-0 lead.

Pratt dug deep and fended off five beak points to hold at 5-2, but Kirilenko leveled the match on her third set point.

The Russian carried the momentum into the deciding set, breaking for 1-0 when Pratt hit a forehand wide. But her lead was short-lived as she double-faulted to allow Pratt to break back for 3-3.

Both players picked up the tempo with Pratt fighting off two break points to hold for 6-5. The Australian then edged ahead, breaking the Russian in the next game to finally clinch victory when Kirilenko erred on her forehand.

Top seed Marion Bartoli of France also had a tough battle, fighting back from 1-4 down in the second set to defeat Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-3, 6-4.
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