Sun Dec 30 10:11:10 2007

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Peer among Gold Coast winners as 2008 season opens

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Gold Coast, Australia (Sports Network) - Shahar Peer of Israel was among the first-round winners Sunday at the Australian Women's Hardcourts, as the 2008 women's tennis season kicked off.

The fifth-seeded Peer rallied for a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory over American Julie Ditty on the first day of play at the Australian Open tuneup.

Only two other first-round matches were on the docket Sunday. France's Nathalie Dechy was a 6-2, 6-2 winner over China's Zi Yan and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus notched a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama.

Qualifying also wrapped up Sunday and those earning spots in the main draw were Julia Schruff of Germany, Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky, Russia's Alisa Kleybanova and Olga Savchuk of the Ukraine.

Julia Vakulenko of the Ukraine withdrew from the tournament because of a right wrist injury and was replaced by another Ukrainian, Yuliana Fedak. She will play eighth-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary on Monday.

Dinara Safina of Russia is the defending champion and this year's third seed. She will face wild card Jarmila Gajdosova on Monday.

Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic is the top seed and Russia's Nadia Petrova is the second seed. Patty Schnyder of Switzerland and France's Amelie Mauresmo are other top players entered this week.

The Aussie Open will commence January 14 in Melbourne.