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Ivanovic, Schiavone Win at Hasselt
Posted on November 1, 2006
HASSELT, Belgium -- Francesca Schiavone cruised to the Gaz de France Stars final last year by dropping only one set. The No.2-seeded Italian started her 2006 campaign in equally convincing manner, crushing Meghann Shaughnessy, 62 61, at Ethias Arena.
Schiavone needed less than 50 minutes to improve her Hasselt record to 7-2 on Tuesday. She reached the quarterfinals here two years ago in her first appearance and followed up with an impressive runner-up finish last year. The world No.15 made three more finals this year (Sydney, Amelia Island, Luxembourg) and also had outstanding doubles results, winning three titles and qualifying for the Sony Ericsson Championships next week. Her next opponent here is Polish lucky loser Agnieszka Radwanska.
No.3 seed Ana Ivanovic survived her first round match in straight sets but No.4 Anna-Lena Groenefeld and No.5 Ai Sugiyama ended their seasons with disappointing first round exits. While Ivanovic handled Andrea Petkovic, 63 75, Groenefeld fell, 61 63, to Aravane Rezai and Sugiyama was ousted by Eleni Daniilidou, 06 63 64.
Ivanovic next faces German qualifier, Angelique Kerber, for a spot in the quarters. The Serbian teen suffered from right shoulder tendonitis earlier this month but won a pair of Linz matches last week to reach her seventh quarterfinal of the year.
Other Tuesday winners were Sandra Kloesel, Kaia Kanepi and Kirsten Flipkens. On Wednesday, all eyes will be on top seed and defending champion Kim Clijsters, who will play her first match after a two-month injury layoff. No.7 seed Samantha Stosur and No.8 Mara Santangelo play in the early afternoon.
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