MIAMI, FL, USA - There were several minor upsets on Wednesday, as the bottom half of the $3.45-million Sony Ericsson Open main draw played their first round matches. Among the survivors was one of last year's breakout stars, American veteran Jill Craybas.
Craybas was responsible for a minor upset earlier in the day, getting past Italian serve-and-volleyer Roberta Vinci in three sets, 63 26 60. The 60th-ranked American regrouped in a big way after dropping the second set, breaking her 48th-ranked foe in all three of her service games and dropping just four points on her own service. In the end, the tenacious veteran avenged a loss in their only prior encounter, in the qualifying tournament of Eastbourne two years ago.
"My focus was a lot better in the third set," said the 32-year-old. "I was focusing on what I need to do instead of worrying about how she was playing, or what she was doing. The way I approached the third set will help me for the next round because that made a big impact and I'll go into the next round feeling that way."
A year ago here, Craybas became one of the tournament's top stories, pulling off a major upset in the second round over Kim Clijsters, who was the defending champion and ranked No.2 at the time. It was her second career Top 10 win, and she would make it all the way to the round of 16, the last remaining American.
"I always feel confident coming into this tournament," Craybas said. "I always have a good feeling in Miami because I've performed well here in the past. Also, I have a lot of friends that drive down from Gainesville to watch me play, so I have a lot of support and that helps, as well."
Vinci was not the only Top 50 player to fall on the first day. World No.43 Meghann Shaughnessy fell to Portuguese phenom Michelle Larcherde Brito, 36 62 76(3); and No.45 Flavia Pennetta fell to Virginie Razzano of France, 64 62.
The three fallen Top 50 players were balanced by three victorious Top 50 stars. No.37 Olga Poutchkova defeated Sofia Arvidsson, 26 63 62; No.40 Peng Shuai beat Elena Vesnina, 60 60; and No.44 Nathalie Dechy beat Camille Pin, 64 63.
Also winning were Americans Meilen Tu, Laura Granville and Vania King; Russian stars Vasilisa Bardina, Alina Jidkova, and Ekaterina Bychkova; Anastasiya Yakimova and Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus; Japan's Akiko Morigami; and finally Austrian teen Tamira Paszek.
All 16 first round matches on the top half of the draw take the courts Thursday. All 32 seeds received first round byes and will debut as second round action takes place on Friday and Saturday. (WTA)
