Barthel, Niculescu win, 2 seeds fall

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LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Czech Lucie Hradeca and Slovenia's Magdalena Rybarikova turned in upset victories over seeded players Monday in the Luxembourg Open tennis tournament.

Hradecka took out seventh-seeded Tamira Paszek of Austria 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) and Rybarikova outlasted Spain's Suarez Navarro, the No. 8 seed, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in the opening round.

Ninth-seeded Mona Barthel of Germany eliminated Luxembourg wild card Mandy Minella 7-5, 6-0.

Romanian Monica Niculescu, last year's Luxembourg runner-up, battled to a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 triumph over Romina Oprandi of Switzerland.

Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the defending champion, is not entered in this year's event.

Top seeds Roberta Vinci and Julia Goerges are among players preparing for first-round matches Tuesday.