Mon Jun 16 16:28:02 2008

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Mauresmo wins; Azarenka loses in Eastbourne

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Eastbourne, England (Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo was a first-round victor, while fifth-seeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka went by way of the upset Monday at the $600,000 International Women's Open, a final Wimbledon tuneup.

An unseeded Mauresmo toppled sixth-seeded fellow Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-1, 4-6, 7-5, while another unseeded Frenchwoman, Aravane Rezai, took out Azarenka 6-2, as the Belarusian retired after the first set due to a left knee injury.

Mauresmo was last year's runner-up here to recently-retired Belgian star Justine Henin. The veteran Frenchwoman will face Aussie Samantha Stosur in the second round this week.

Meanwhile, eighth-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova pasted Israeli Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-2 at Devonshire Park International Tennis Centre.

Additional opening-round wins came for Stosur, Chinese Na Li and Argentine Gisela Dulko. Li will face Petrova here on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, 32-year-old former world No. 1 American Lindsay Davenport will play her first tennis in two months, taking on France's Virginie Razzano in a first-rounder.

This week's winner will collect $95,500.