Schiavone wins Italian meeting

In the second set the difference between the two players became even more visible when 24 year old Schiavone steamrollered all over her one year younger opponent.

The #19 ranked Francesca Schiavone will meet one of the Spanish players who will have to fight each other for a spot in the second round being Marta Marrero or Nuria Llagostera Vives.

Kim Clijsters will have to play her first match against Czech Iveta Benesova who defeats Angelika Bachmann of Germany.

Benesova just had the better game in the end and Bachmann failed to score points in short rallies. The long rallies seemed to be for the Bachmann, the Czech had trouble finishing the points. The German player could not take advantage of that and lost the first set 6-4 after being broken on the 6th and 10th service game. Bachmann started out well taking Benesova’s 1st service game. In the 6th Bachmann hits a double fault on 30-40 and in the 10th breaks after hitting winners and forcing Bachmann into a defence she could not handle.

In the second set Benesova had the better side of the game and started hitting more winners, she also started winning the longer rallies although most of her points were won on short rallies and errors made by Bachmann.

The 19 year old from Most, Czech Republic breaks for a 4-2 lead buts does not hold her own serve in the 7th game. She breaks Bachmann’s serve after hitting two winners for 0-30, she wins a long rally for 15-40 but Bachmann comes back with a defending dropshot for 30-40. The German hits the next ball wide, Benesova taking the lead 5-3.

Serving for the match Benesova hits a backhand crosscourt winner for 30-0. The lefthander also hits a winner for match point 40-15. To end the match the Czech hits the ball crosscourt over the net ending the match 6-4, 6-3.