Mon Jun 16 16:05:09 2008

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Safina moves on in The Netherlands

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's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands (Sports Network) - French Open runner-up Dinara Safina highlighted Monday's first-round winners at the Ordina Open, a final tune-up for Wimbledon.

The third-seeded Safina subdued France's Pauline Parmentier 6-4, 6-1 on the grass courts at Autotron Rosmalen. The surging Safina has now won 13 of her last 14 matches, with her lone setback coming at the hands of Ana Ivanovic in the final at Roland Garros.

Day-2 upsets came when American Ashley Harkleroad knocked out fourth-seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-4 and Indian Sania Mirza dismissed fifth- seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-3. Mirza is in her second week back after missing three months of action with a wrist injury.

Additional upsets were avoided when seventh-seeded Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik stopped Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 and eighth- seeded Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko outlasted Czech qualifier Iveta Benesova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek advanced with a 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (9-7) decision against Japan's Ai Sugiyama.

Other Monday winners were Italian Sara Errani, qualifier Marina Erakovic of New Zealand and German qualifier Angelique Kerber.

On Tuesday, Safina will take on France's Camille Pin, while second-seeded and defending Ordina champion Anna Chakvetadze of Russia will encounter Kerber in the second round. Chakvetadze upset Serbian Jelena Jankovic in last year's finale here.