PATTAYA, Thailand (AP) — Third-seeded Maria Kirilenko has reached the second round of the Pattaya Open after beating Alberta Brianti of Italy in three sets.
The 25th-ranked Russian won 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 on Monday in a match that lasted 2 hours, 15 minutes.
Veteran American Jill Craybas also advanced with a victory over former top-ranked junior Noppawan Lertcheewakarn. The 36-year-old Craybas, ranked 97th, won 6-3, 6-3 after a string of unforced errors from Lertcheewakarn.
Lertcheewakarn, 19, the 2009 junior Wimbledon champion, says she was “tired and not ready to play” after representing Thailand in the Fed Cup.
Also Monday, sixth-seeded Peng Shuai of China defeated Chan Yung-jan and Peng’s compatriot Zhang Shuai beat Zuzana Kucova.
