Safina takes first-round hard-court win

GOLD COAST, Australia, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Dinara Safina opened defense of her Australian Women's Hardcourts title by rallying Monday for a three-set victory.

Safina, seeded third, dropped her first set but was solid in the second and third sets in stopping Jarmila Gajdosova 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in her first match of the Australian Open tuneup.

Second-seeded Nadia Petrova was knocked out by Tathiana Garbin 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 and No. 8-seeded Agnes Szavay also dropped a three-set decision 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 to Yuliana Fedak.

Sixth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, who won the 2007 Australian Open, cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Olga Savchuk. Also winning was fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder, who defeated Alisa Kleybanova 6-1, 6-3.

Meghann Shaughnessy was ahead 6-0, 1-0 when she suffered a knee injury and was forced to withdraw against Francesca Schiavone.

The total purse for the Australia Women's Hardcourts $175,000. The tournament final scheduled for Saturday.

The Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam event, is set for Jan. 14-27.