Harkleroad takes New Zealand upset win

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Ashley Harkleroad routed eighth-seeded Emilie Loit Monday in first-round play of the $145,000 ASB Classic tennis tournament in New Zealand.

Harkleroad, ranked 67th in the world, stopped Loit 6-4, 6-1 in posting the day's lone upset, with none of the other seeded players even pushed to a third set.

Third-seeded Katarina Srebotnik was the most dominant, leading 6-0, 3-0 when Anastassia Rodionova retired with eye irritation. Fifth-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues ousted Nicole Pratt 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 and No. 6-seeded Tamira Paszek defeated Yanina Wickmayer 7-6 (9-7), 6-1.

Media Garrigues next meets Lindsay Davenport, who said she is returning to full-time tennis tour play. Davenport was a 6-2, 6-3 first-round winner over Laura Granville.

Additional wins Monday were posted by Yvonne Meusburger and Klara Zakopalova.