LONDON, (Reuters) – French Open runner-up Samantha Stosur made a swift transition from clay to grass when she overcame American teenager Melanie Oudin in the first round of the Eastbourne championships yesterday.
The Australian, who beat Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic on her way to the French Open final before losing to Italy’s Francesca Schiavone, fired down 10 aces during a 6-4 6-4 victory.
The third seed rallied from 4-1 down in the second set against Oudin to complete victory in an hour and 15 minutes at the sedate seaside setting of Devonshire Park.
Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, another grand slam runner-up in action, progressed to the second round against Russia’s Vera Dushevina with a 6-4 7-5 victory. There were also victories for Daniela Hantuchova and Lucie Safarova.
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki and Belgium’s U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters are both in action on Tuesday in a high-quality draw that features seven of the world’s top 12.
Wozniacki faces a tricky opening test against France’s Aravane Rezai.
In men’s action yesterday third seed Gilles Simon beat Evgeny Korolev but American James Blake made an early exit, losing to another Frenchman, fourth seed Julien Benneteau.
Spain’s Nicolas Almagro is the top seed in the men’s tournament, ahead of compatriot Feliciano Lopez.
