Safina advances at Carlsbad

Carlsbad, Calif. -- Russian Dinara Safina struggled in the second set but ended up a straight-wet winner Monday in the first-round of the Mercury Insurance Open.

Safina – ranked No. 35 in the world after having been No.1 at one point -- eliminated Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 7-6 (7-2).

Alisa Kleybanova of Russian dropped Aravane Rezai of France 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 and Sara Errani of Italy beat Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.

Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).

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