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Volandri wins first-rounder in Croatia

Filippo Volandri, shown in a 2007 tournament, was a first-round winner Monday at the Croatia Open. (UPI Photo/ David Silpa)
Filippo Volandri, shown in a 2007 tournament, was a first-round winner Monday at the Croatia Open. (UPI Photo/ David Silpa) | License Photo

UMAG, Croatia, July 14 (UPI) -- Filippo Volandri, unseeded but looking for a third trip to the Croatia Open finals, recorded a first-round victory Monday in kicking off the tournament.

Volandri advanced to the tournament title match in both 2003 and 2004 and took a step back in that direction with a solid 6-1, 6-4 win over Flavio Cipolla during the first day of the clay-court tournament.

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He moved into the second round and a match against seventh-seeded Fabio Fognini, who defeated Ricardas Berankis 6-3, 6-2 in his first-round match.

Also Monday, Boris Pashanski slipped by Gianluca Naso 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11-9); Roko Karanusic beat Francesco Piccari 6-2, 6-2; and Mathieu Montcourt stopped Antonio Veic 6-4, 6-2. Montcourt next goes against top-seeded Fernando Verdasco.

The field includes local favorite Ivo Karlovic as the No. 2 seed and Carlos Moya, who last year won his fifth Croatia Open title.

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