Italians Win, Venus On Today at WTA Luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg -- Fed Cup doubles partners Francesca Schiavone and Roberta Vinci will play each other in the second round of the Fortis Championships. The Italians won their debut matches by identical scores, 64 63, Tuesday at the hardcourt indoors event.

No.5 seed Schiavone went three-for-four on break opportunities and added five aces against Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek. Qualifier Vinci defeated another qualifier, Tatjana Malek. Earlier this month, Vinci and Schiavone partnered in the deciding doubles rubber against Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens and Justine Henin-Hardenne to give Italy its first Fed Cup title.

No.7 seed Anna-Lena Groenefeld and No.8 Mary Pierce crashed out of this $600,000 event. Groenefeld committed nine double faults and fell victim to Italian qualifier Karin Knapp, 60 64. Pierce was defeated by Alona Bondarenko, 63 63. World No.134 Knapp scored her best career victory, while Bondarenko notched her second best win against world No.18 Pierce. The Ukrainian defeated then-world No.14 Alicia Molik last year at Bali.

Other Tuesday winners were Nathalie Dechy and Chanda Rubin. On Wednesday, Venus Williams, Elena Dementieva and Patty Schnyder take center stage.
-- WTA