Seeds Get Off to Winning Start in Monterrey

After suffering three first round losses - in Sydney, Melbourne and Dubai - current world No.38 Maria Kirilenko notched her first win of the season on the opening day's play of the inaugural Monterrey Open. Zheng Jie, the other seed in action early on Monday, also advanced to the second round of the $220,000 International event.

On paper, each of Kirilenko's defeats this year has been a narrow upset, but all have been to in-form players on the rise: Alisa Kleybanova, Sara Errani, and Anastasia Payvlyuchenkova. So while New Zealand's Marina Erakovic isn't quite as highly rated as that trio just yet, 22-year-old Kirilenko could have been forgiven for approaching the match with some trepidation. Erakovic is a feisty all-court player with several good scalps to her name, but on this occasion eighth-seeded Kirilenko kept her composure to register a straight-sets win, 64 63.

Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska wasn't due to play her opening match against China's Li Na until the evening session, but her younger sister Urszula was on court during the day, albeit briefly. Urszula, who beat her more celebrated sibling in Dubai two weeks ago, had no answer to the guile of recent Top 20 debutante and Zheng, falling 63 63.

Joining No.4 seed Zheng in the second round was Lucie Safarova, who powered home against Mexican wildcard Melissa Torres Sandoval, 64 61; the Czech lefty takes on Kirilenko next. Seventh seed Gisela Dulko of Argentina also moved through, edging France's Nathalie Dechy, 64 75.

The four qualifying slots were also determined in Monterrey on Monday, with Dutch teen Aranxta Rus advancing at the expense of Argentina's Bettina Jozami; and Slovakia's Lenka Wienerova beating Hungary’s Greta Arn. Michaella Krajicek, who was granted a wildcard into the qualifying event, ousted Mara Santangelo, while Vania King prevailed over Olga Savchuk in three sets.

On Tuesday, No.5 seed Agnes Szavay faces Pauline Parmentier during the daytime, to be followed by No.6 seed Iveta Benesova against Israel's Shahar Peer. Second seed Marion Bartoli and third seed Flavia Pennetta make their first appearances in the evening, against Jill Craybas and Krajicek respectively.