GOLD COAST, Australia, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Meghann Shaughnessy, looking to build on a breakout season, advanced Monday to the second round of the Australian Women's Hardcourt Championships.
Shaughnessy, the fourth seed, cruised past Spanish qualifier Nuria Llagostera Vives, 6-2, 6-2.
The 22-year-old American won her second career singles title here and reached two other finals last year, qualifying for the season-ending championships for the first time and reaching a career-high ranking of 11. She recorded her first win over a top five player here last year to reach the semifinals.
No. 6 Rita Grande became the second seed to fall in the first round when she was upended by Germany qualifier Anca Barna, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. Third seed Sandrine Testud lost on Sunday.
Eighth seed and 1998 winner Ai Sugiyama of Japan needed three sets to reach to the second round, posting a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Marlene Weingartner of Germany.
Switzerland's Patty Schnyder advanced to a second-round encounter with top seed Venus Williams with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win over Czech qualifier Klara Koukalova.
Schnyder, who won this event three years ago, finished 2001 on a high note by capturing the Volvo Women's Open at Pattaya City, Thailand in November.
Also Monday, Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova held off Germany's Bianka Lamade, 6-1, 7-5; Australian Nicole Pratt routed American Lilia Osterloh, 6-2, 6-1; and Joanette Kruger of South Africa overcame Iva Majoli of Croatia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
