WINNING START: Maria, Anabel and Zheng Jie begin campaign in contrasting styles
A TRIO of former women's champions opened with contrasting May Day victories at the ATP-WTA Estoril Open on Tuesday.
It was the same on the men's side of the draw, with 2009-2010 winner Albert Montanes advanced over Australian Matthew Ebden 6-2, 6-3.
Second-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko, who lifted the title at the Estadio Nacional in 2008, overcame Briton Elena Baltacha 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 in a struggle which began with a first set lasting exactly one hour in front of holiday crowds.
Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues, the third-seeded holder, got past German Kristina Barrois with more ease as she posted a 6-4, 6-1 win. That win was a repeat of last year's final won by the Spaniard.
China's Zheng Jie, the number five who won in 2006, put out Russian Ekaterina Makarova, Russia, 6-3, 6-1.
Anabel was pleased to beat Kristina for the second time of asking in Portugal.
"I played pretty well considering I wasn't able to warm up due to rain," said the winner. "The start felt strange but after a few games I managed to feel better and get comfortable.
"I won in the end so I'm quite happy. When you win an event you want to come back the next year and defend the title.
"But all the matches are difficult and this one was not an exception. I'm taking it step-by-step and see how I go."
Maria, losing finalist in February at Pattaya, Thailand, battled the 63rd-ranked Elena as the Briton tried in vain to win only her third WTA match of the season.
The Russian seed finally claimed an opening set featuring six breaks of serve in a tiebreaker, earning the lead on her first set point after saving two for Elena.
In the second Maria stamped her authority on the contest after another 45 minutes.
Three more seeds took opening wins, with number four Petra Cetkovska defeating Alexandra Panova of Russia 6-2, 6-1 and number six Kaia Kanepi of Estonia crushing US qualifier Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-0.
Eighth seed Polona Hercog beat Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-0, 6-3.
Australian Jarmila Gajdosova defeated María-Teresa Torró-Flor of Spain 6-3, 6-1, while Briton Heather Watson, a qualifier who last played more than a month ago in Miami, beat Czech Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-4 to next face Cetkovska.
The Men's ATP play was highlighted by locals as Portuguese players went into action.
The 2010 quarter-finalist Rui Machado rallied past wild card compatriot Pedro Sousa 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 6-2 in two hours, breaking six times.
Joao Sousa (won another all-local battle, defeating Gastao Elias 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Italian eighth seed Flavio Cipolla stopped Argentine Diego Junqueira 6-1, 6-4.
Top seed Juan Martin del Potro, Frenchman Richard Gasquet and Swiss debutant Stanislas Wawrinka all have byes in the first round. AFP
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