Sydney - Arabstoday
Australian Jarmila Gajdosova cruised through to the second round of the Estoril Open on Tuesday but compatriot Mathew Ebden was easily eliminated from the claycourt tennis tournament. Gajdosova defeated Mara-Teresa Torr-Flor of Spain 6-3 6-1 to advance while Ebden was defeated by two-time winner Albert Montanes (2009, 2010) 6-2 6-3. Former women's champions Maria Kirilenko, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Zheng Jie opened in Portugal with contrasting victories. Second-seeded Russian Kirilenko, who lifted the title at the Estadio Nacional in 2008, overcame Briton Elena Baltacha 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 in a struggle which began with a first set lasting exactly one hour. Spain's Medina Garrigues, the third-seeded holder, was able to get past German Kristina Barrois with more ease as she posted a 6-4 6-1 win. Medina Garrigues, a 29-year-old who has won 10 of her 11 career trophies on clay, broke Barrois five times in their match lasting just under 90 minutes. Zheng, who won in 2006, put out Russian Ekaterina Makarova, 6-3 6-1. Medina Garrigues was pleased to beat Barrois for the second time in Portugal. "I played pretty well considering I wasn't able to warm up due to rain this morning," said the winner. "The start felt strange but, after a few games, I managed to feel better and get comfortable. "I won in the end so I'm quite happy. When you win an event, you want to come back the next year and defend the title. "But all the matches are difficult and this one was not an exception. I'm taking it step by step and see how I go." The men's action featured Italian eighth seed Flavio Cipolla stopping Argentine Diego Junqueira 6-1 6-4. Top seed Juan Martin del Potro, Frenchman Richard Gasquet and Swiss debutant Stanislas Wawrinka all have byes in the first round.