DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Sixth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova rolled to a straight-set victory Monday in the first round of the $1.34 million Qatar Open.
Hantuchova roared past Catalina Castano, 6-1, 6-0, to take her first match of the tournament. The only other seeded player to play Monday also won in straight sets. Eighth-seeded Francesca Schiavone was a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Tsvetana Pironkova.
Sania Mirza topped Romina Oprandi, 6-4, 6-3, and Mara Santangelo stopped Sandra Kloesel, 6-3, 7-6 (6-4), in other matches Monday.
The top seeded players in the tournament -- No. 1 Justine Henin, second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 3 Martina Hingis and fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic -- have first-round byes. The 2006 Qatar Open champion, Nadia Petrova, is not in the field this year.
The tournament champion will earn $222,000.
