Hantuchova rallies for Italian Masters win

ROME, May 14 (UPI) -- No. 9-seeded Daniela Hantuchova dropped the first set Monday before posting a first-round win at the $1.34 million Italian Masters tennis tournament in Rome.

Hantuchova came from behind in eliminating Aravane Rezai 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the opening day of the clay-court tournament.

Also Monday, 10th-seeded Elena Dementieva had little trouble in ousting Maria Elena Camerin 6-1, 6-2, and No. 11 Shahar Peer hadn't lost a game and led 6-0, 2-0, when Agnieszka Radwanska retired with a right wrist injury.

In other highlighted matches, Ai Sugiyama defeated Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 5-7, 7-5; Meghann Shaughnessy breezed past Emilie Loit 6-3, 6-2; and Karolina Sprem overcame Eleni Daniilidou 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Also winning Monday were Michaella Krajicek, Tamira Paszek, Alona Bondarenko, Catalina Castano and Galina Voskoboeva.

The top seeds for the Italian Masters are No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo and second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Martina Hingis, out with an injury, won last year's tournament but is not defending her title.