Three seeds out at Korea Open first round

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Three seeded players, including No. 3 Ai Sugiyama, were upset Monday in first-round play at the $145,000 Korea Open hard-court tennis tournament in Seoul.

Sugiyama, the runner-up in the 2006 Korea Open, was ousted by Ayumi Morita 7-5, 6-3 as the tournament opened at the Olympic Tennis Courts.

Seventh-seeded Aiko Nakamura and No. 8 Akiko Morigami were also knocked out. Nakamura dropped a tight 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) decision to Severine Bremond while Flavia Pennetta was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Morigami.

Also Monday, Pauline Parmentier handled Edina Gallovits 6-2, 6-4; and Galina Voskoboeva beat Youlia Fedossova 6-4, 6-1.

World No. 9 Venus Williams is the top seed this week and is paired against Abigail Spears in her first-round match Tuesday. Defending champion Eleni Daniilidou meets Caroline Wozniacki in her first tournament match.

The tournament continued through Sunday when the champion will collect $21,140.