Third-seeded Sania Mirza of India shook off a slow start and rallied for a 6-4, 6-3 win over Abigail Spears of the US in the first round of the Cincinnati Women's Open on Monday.
Mirza, who has reached the quarter-finals of the tournament the last two years, lost the first three games of the opening-round match against the 140th-ranked Spears.
In the first of the night matches, Lilia Osterloh of the US jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set and rolled to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine. The win was Osterloh's first in four matches against Kutuzova -- the first two on clay and the third on Wimbledon's grass.
"Obviously, I'm more comfortable on the hardcourt," said Osterloh, ranked No. 112, 80 spots ahead of Kutuzova.
In the only other main draw match, seventh-seeded Akiko Morigami of Japan outlasted Camille Pin of France 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (2).
Already a set down, Morigami fell behind 5-1 in the second-set tiebreaker before charging back to win.
"All of a sudden, I said, `Hmm, I should start coming to the net,' and that seemed to work," said Morigami, who will play the winner of the first-round match between Anastasia Rodionova of Russia and Angelique Kerber of Germany.
"I think I was lucky to win the match. It was hard for me to score. I definitely missed a lot of balls. I didn't execute my game plan," Morigami said.
The tournament -- already plagued by the withdrawals of several players due to injuries, including Serena Williams, Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli, defending champion Vera Zvonareva and last year's runner-up, Katarina Srebotnik -- lost two more seeded players on Monday.
Fourth-seeded Meilen Tu withdrew because of a wrist injury sustained when she played for the US in the Fed Cup last weekend. An undisclosed illness forced eighth-seeded Severine Bremond to withdraw.
Korolev beats Hrbaty
Evgeny Korolev beat sixth-seeded Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3 on Monday in the first round of the Dutch Open.
The Russian broke Hrbaty once in the first set and again in the third.
Also, Nicolas Devilder of France beat Agustin Calleri of Argentina 6-3, 6-1, Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina beat Kristof Vliegen of Belgium 6-3, 6-3, Gilles Simon of France defeated Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain 6-2, 6-4 and Victor Hanescu of Romania outlasted Albert Montanes of Spain 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (4).
Wildcard entry Robin Haase of the Netherlands beat Spanish qualifier Felix Mantille 6-3, 6-2.
Rain and fading light forced the suspension of the day's remaining two matches. Nicolas Massu led Thiemo Bakker 5-4 in the first set, and Sergio Roitman was 6-6 in the first set against Jeremy Chardy when they were forced off the court.
Monfils upsets Robredo
Gael Monfils upset second-seeded Tommy Robredo 7-6 (5), 6-2 on Monday in the first round of the Mercedes Cup.
Robredo, runner-up in Stuttgart in 2003, received a wild card into the main draw this year, but his stay ended early.
In other matches, qualifier Marin Cilic served 14 aces to upset Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-2.
Becker served poorly and drew a warning for breaking a racket and striking a ball over the stands in frustration.
"To lose in the first round at home is particularly bitter," Becker said.
Fernando Verdasco defeated Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-2 and Jiri Vanek beat Ivan Navarro Pastor 6-1, 6-1.
French Open champion Rafael Nadal is the top-seeded player in the US$885,773 clay-court tournament. He was to play Alexander Waske yesterday.
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