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Quick turnaround wins in Qatar for Safarova, Zakopalova

Lucie Safarova, shown at the 2012 U.S. Open, claimed a first-round win at the Qatar Total Open 2014 Tuesday, one day after helping the Czech Republic beat Spain in the Fed Cup. UPI/John Angelillo
Lucie Safarova, shown at the 2012 U.S. Open, claimed a first-round win at the Qatar Total Open 2014 Tuesday, one day after helping the Czech Republic beat Spain in the Fed Cup. UPI/John Angelillo | License Photo

DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Lucie Safarova and Klara Zakopalova posted first-round wins at the Qatar Total Open Tuesday, one day after claiming key Fed Cup victories.

Safarova and Zakopalova each won points for the Czech Republic in singles matches Monday in the rain-delayed Fed Cup series in Spain. That allowed the Czechs to advance to the Fed Cup semifinals with a 3-2 decision over the Spanish.

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They then hopped a jet to Doha where Safarova, behind a solid serving game, took out 16th-seeded Kirsten Flipkens 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; and Zakopalova sailed by Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4.

No. 9-seeded Ana Ivanovic advanced when Daniela Hantuchova retired with Ivanovic ahead 7-5, 1-0. Also out in a retirement was 10th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova, who was tied 5-5 with Alisa Kleybanova when play stopped. Cibulkova was beaten twice and Hantuchova once in Slovakia's 3-1 Fed Cup loss to Germany.

Samantha Stosur, the No. 12 seed, played Fed Cup matches last weekend in Australia but still was able to take a 6-4, 6-2 decision from Marina Erakovic.

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Bethanie Mattek-Sands ousted 15th-seeded Eugenia Bouchard 7-5, 6-1 with five breaks in nine games receiving serve.

Other first-round winners Tuesday included Zhang Shuai, Stefanie Voegele, Monica Niculescu and qualifier Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

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