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The Sports Network
Pattaya City, Thailand (Sports Network) - Two-time champion Vera Zvonareva
and reigning titlist Daniela Hantuchova posted first-round wins, while second-
seeded Dominika Cibulkova came up a loser Tuesday at the $220,000 Pattaya Open
tennis tournament.
The top-seeded Zvonareva handled Thai qualifier Varatchaya Wongteanchai 6-2,
7-5 on the hardcourts at Dusit Resort Pattaya. The Russian Zvonareva, the
2010 Wimbledon and U.S. Open runner-up, captured back-to-back titles in
Pattaya City in 2009 and 2010.
The third-seeded Hantuchova resumed her winning ways at this event with a
6-2, 6-0 pasting of Thai wild card Nungnadda Wannasuk. Hantuchova beat Italian
Sara Errani in last year's finale here.
Meanwhile, Brit Anne Keothavong dismissed Cibulkova in 6-4, 6-1 fashion, while
fourth-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko moved on with a 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
victory over Aussie Casey Dellacqua on Day 2.
Other upsets came when qualifier Su-Wei Hsieh of Taipei humbled fifth-seeded
Chinese Zheng Jie 6-3, 6-2 and Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn took out
sixth-seeded Kazakhstani Galina Voskoboeva 6-3, 4-2, retired. The 34-year-
old Tanasugarn was the Pattaya Open runner-up to Zvonareva two years ago and
was also a finalist here way back in 1996.
Eighth-seeded American Vania King avoided the upset bug with a 6-4, 6-2
decision against Britain's Heather Watson.
Additional first-round wins came for Russian Alla Kudryavtseva, qualifier Kai-
Chen Chang of Taipei, Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova, Pole Urszula Radwanska,
Japan's Misaki Doi and 41-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm, and Indian Sania Mirza.
The 2012 Pattaya City champion will collect $37,000.
The Sports Network