• Rome Open

Champion Martinez Sanchez toppled by Makarova in Rome

ESPN staff
May 9, 2011
Ekaterina Makarova powers into a forehand © Getty Images
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Rome Open Seedings

Defending champion Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez toppled out of the Rome Open at the first-round stage to Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

The Spaniard won the event as an unseeded player 12 months ago, but she failed to repeat the trick as Makarova secured a 6-0 5-7 6-4 success.

After recovering from being bageled in the first set to level the match, Martinez Sanchez failed to get to grips with the blustery conditions in Rome and two breaks of serve were enough to take Makarova through.

Svetlana Kuznetsova was the first seed to fall, with the Russian No. 11 seed falling 3-6 7-6(4) 7-6(9) in a near three-and-a-half-hour epic to Greta Arn.

The No. 13 seed Ana Ivanovic enjoyed a comfortable passage into round two, as he was 6-0 3-0 to the good when her opponent Nadia Petrova retired.

The ninth seed Marion Bartoli produced a solid showing to beat Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2 6-3.

Anabel Medina Garrigues battled through qualifying and the effort paid off as she proved too strong for Patty Schnyder, winning 6-3 6-2.

There were also wins for Vera Dushevina, Elena Vesnina, Lourdes Dominguez Lino, Iveta Benesova and Polona Hercog.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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