Safina in stunning WTA tour debut

ESTORIL, Portugal, April 8 (UPI) -- Russian teenager Dinara Safina made a stunning WTA Tour debut Monday, eliminating third seed Martina Sucha of Slovakia, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, in the first round of the $665,000 Estoril Open.

The younger sister of ATP Tour star Marat Safin, the 15-year-old Safina had no trouble continuing the success she enjoyed as a junior, which was highlighted by a runner-up showing in girls' singles at Wimbledon last year.

Earlier this year, Safina won two singles titles and a doubles crown in a pair of International Tennis Federation events.

In other women's action, fifth seed Tina Pisnik of Slovakia outlasted Martina Muller of Germany, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4; No. 6 Petra Mandula of Hungary swept past Silvija Talaja of Croatia, 6-4, 6-3; and Elena Bovina of Russia surprised eighth seed Eleni Daniilidou of Greece, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

Also, Ludmila Cervanova of Slovakia got past Germany's Jana Kandarr, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

On the men's side, 2000 champion Carlos Moya continued to thrive on clay with a 7-5, 6-4 first-round victory over Franco Squillari of Argentina. The third seed from Spain, Moya also won on this surface in February at Acapulco.

"I feel very fit right now and just want to win," said Moya, who

halted a three-match losing streak and defeated Squillari for

the first time in four meetings. "I'm glad to be playing well,

but I want to keep the pace all the way to Roland Garros."

Also, Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty defeated Britain's Martin Lee,

6-1, 6-4, and Albert Montanes of Spain dispatched Portuguese

wild card Nuno Matias, 6-2, 6-1.

Italy's Federico Luzzi defeated Agustin Calleri of Argentina,

5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, but David Nalbandian was more successful

than his Argentine countryman as he advanced with a 6-3, 6-4

triumph over Spain's Francisco Clavet. Dutchman Sjeng Schalken

swept past Israel's Harel Levy, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

The women's champion collects $22,000, while the men's winner

gets $68,300.