Dementieva Hip to Win at WTA Charleston

No. 2-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva, coming off a hip injury that kept her out of Amelia Island last week, looked strong in her opener Tuesday at the ATP stop in Charleston, downing rising countrywoman Alina Jidkova 6-4, 6-4.

"I felt very confident today on the court," said the service-challenged Dementieva, who chunked in double-digit double faults but looked to have more "oomph" on he first serve. "I like to play on the claycourts, and I had the rest last week, so I feel pretty fresh. I was ready for this match and I really enjoyed today."

Seeds sent home Tuesday were No. 6 Vera Zvonareva, blowing a 4-1 lead in the third against Iveta Benesova, and No. 12 Silvia Farina Elia, ousted by Croat Jelena Kostanic.

Other seeded winners were (7) Nadia Petrova (d. Morigami, bagel in the second), (13) Tatiana Golovin (d. Frazier), (14) Shinobu Asagoe (d. Lee-Waters from a set down), and (15) Mary Pierce (d. Washington).

Other unseeded winners on the day were American Lisa Raymond (d. Razzano, bagel in the second), Aussie Sam Stosur (d. Ruano Pascual), Slovak Katarina Srebotnik (d. (WC) Pratt), Czech Barbora Strycova (d. Martinez), Spain's Marta Marrero (d. countrywoman Medina Garrigues, bagel in the second), and American Meghann Shaughnessy (d. (WC) Daniilidou, bagel in the second).

No. 5 seed Alicia Molik withdrew from the event with an inner ear infection.

"I feel like my body isn't allowing me to play so I can't fight that," Molik said. "I hope to be back next year."

The injury-free Pierce says she is rejuvinated and ready for Roland Garros in May.

"The French is my favorite tournament," said Pierce. "It's definitely my goal of the claycourt season, if not of the year, and I'm feeling good and really excited.

Scheduled for Wednesday on the dirt are Groenefeld vs. Sugiyama, the former No. 1 Henin-Hardenne vs. Peng, world No. 1 Davenport vs. Pelletier, Vaidisova vs. Myskina, Venus vs. Chladkova, Stosur vs. Klara "Kouky" Koukalova, Patty "Handshake" Schnyder vs. Marrero, Pierce vs. Nuria Llagostera "Panco" Vives, Asagoe vs. Shaughnessy, Raymond vs. Tatiana "Hot Pants" Golovin, Kutuzova vs. Zuluaga, Perebiynis vs. Srebotnik, and Kostanic vs. Strycova.