Slovenia Open: Golovin beats Osterloh

Portoroz:

Top-seeded Tatiana Golovin of France needed three sets to eliminate American Lilia Osterloh 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 on Monday in the first round of the Slovenia Open.

It was the second meeting between the two. In their only other encounter at the French Open in 2005, Golovin routed the 29-year-old from San Francisco 6-0, 6-2.

Golovin reached a career high ranking of No 16 in May, a month after claiming her only tour title in Amelia Island, Florida.

In another first-round match, fourth-seeded Katarina Srebotnik routed Slovenian compatriot Masha Zec Peskiric, 6-0, 6-0 in 40 minutes.

Srebotnik, the top seed in Portoroz last year but who was ousted in the first round, is having her best season so far in singles. She reached quarterfinals in Sydney, Charleston and Stanford.

Elena Likhovtseva of Russia also advanced to the second round, beating 2005 champion Klara Zakopalova 7-6 (8), 6-2.

Likhovtseva, who has won three WTA titles in her career, said she was "happy with the result, but not with my play."

Third-seeded Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine withdrew from the tournament late Sunday, citing personal reasons. She will be replaced by a lucky loser.