Govortsova, Koryttseva Win Openers in Guangzhou

Source: Sports Network

Seeds Olga Govortsova and Mariya Koryttseva were among Monday's opening-round winners at the 5,000 Guangzhou International Women's Open.

Olga Govortsova (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

The sixth-seeded Govortsova, of Belarus, blitzed China's Zi Yan 6-3, 6-2, while an eighth-seeded Koryttseva, of Ukraine, handled Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova 6-4, 6-4 on the hardcourts at Fangcun Sports Center.

In other Day-1 action, Romanian Ioana Raluca Olaru overcame Hungarian Aniko Kapros 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1; Chinese wild card Lu Jingjing topped Belarus' Ekaterina Dzehalevich 7-6 (7-4), 6-2; Alla Kudryavtseva edged out fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; and Italian Karin Knapp beat Chinese wild card Shuai Zhang 7-6 (8-6), 1-6, 6-1.

This week's top seed is Olympic bronze medalist Vera Zvonareva of Russia. Second-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder, fresh off her title in Bali last week, pulled out of the draw at this Tier III event. Zvonareva will open her stay against fellow Russian Anastasia Rodionova.

France's Virginie Razzano defeated Israeli Tzipora Obziler in last year's Guangzhou final, but neither player is in the draw this week.

The 2008 Guangzhou titlist will claim ,000.

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Editor: Jessie Hwang