Date:10/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/10/stories/2008061051101900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Sunitha advances

Birmingham: Sunitha Rao, India’s second best woman tennis player, defeated a higher ranked opponent in Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic 7-6(6) 6-4 to advance to the second round of the $200,000 WTA DFS Classic tournament here on Monday.

Hewitt moves up

At London, Lleyton Hewitt made a solid start to his bid for a record fifth Queen’s Club title as he reached the second round with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Josh Goodall in the Artois Championships on Monday.

The results: WTA DFS Classic: First round: Sunitha Rao bt Petra Kvitova 7-6(6), 6-4; Naomi Cavaday bt Jill Craybas 6-0, 6-4; Aravane Rezai bt Amanda Elliott 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(6); Bethanie Mattek bt Jarmila Gajdosova 7-6(1), 6-2; Ekaterina Makarova bt Elena Baltacha 7-5, 7-6(1); Aiko Nakamura bt Tzipora Obziler 7-5, 6-3; Angelique Kerber bt Olga Puchkova 6-4, 6-3; Sorana Cirstea bt Ayumi Morita 6-2, 6-0.

ATP Stella Artois Championships: First round: Lleyton Hewitt bt Josh Goodall 6-4, 6-4; Kei Nishikori bt Alejandro Falla 2-6, 6-4, 6-2; Mario Ancic bt Nicolas Lapentti 7-5, 6-3; Viktor Troicki bt Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-4; Robby Ginepri bt Vince Spadea 6-4, 7-6(4). — Agencies