Vera Zvonareva set about making up for last year by easing past Taiwanese qualifier Chuang Chia-jung (莊佳容) 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the Family Circle Cup on Monday.
Zvonareva was seeded ninth, just like she was a year ago, when she reached the semi-finals only to retire against fellow Russian Dinara Safina with a wrist injury that sidelined her for four months.
She missed the rest of the clay-court season, all of the grass events, and most of the summer tournaments.
But she’s back in the top 20 thanks to a 21-6 record this year, including two finals appearances in Hobart and Doha.
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic defeated Chan Yung-jan (詹詠然) of Taiwan 6-3, 6-2.
Other seeded winners included No. 10 Agnes Szavay, No. 11 Agnieszka Radwanska, and No. 12 Katarina Srebotnik.
Radwanska met fellow Pole Marta Domachowska for a second time, and won again 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
In an all-Japan match, Ai Sugiyama, older by 14 years at 32, beat Ayumi Morita 6-4, 6-1 to even their series at 2-2.
Sorana Cirstea of Romania rallied from a set and 4-0 down to beat Vania King of the US 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-1, and Gisela Dulko of Argentina beat Alicia Molik of Australia 6-2, 6-3.
The top eight seeds, including No. 1 and defending champion Jelena Jankovic, No. 2 and Amelia Island winner Maria Sharapova, and No. 5 and Indian Wells champion Serena Williams, all received first-round byes.
US qualifier Alexandra Stevenson beat Russian qualifier Alina Jidkova 7-6 (6), 6-1 and meets Jankovic next.
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