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Safina in stunning WTA tour debut

ESTORIL, Portugal, April 8 (UPI) -- Russian teenager Dinara Safina made a stunning WTA Tour debut Monday, eliminating third seed Martina Sucha of Slovakia, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, in the first round of the $665,000 Estoril Open.

The younger sister of ATP Tour star Marat Safin, the 15-year-old Safina had no trouble continuing the success she enjoyed as a junior, which was highlighted by a runner-up showing in girls' singles at Wimbledon last year.

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Earlier this year, Safina won two singles titles and a doubles crown in a pair of International Tennis Federation events.

In other women's action, fifth seed Tina Pisnik of Slovakia outlasted Martina Muller of Germany, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4; No. 6 Petra Mandula of Hungary swept past Silvija Talaja of Croatia, 6-4, 6-3; and Elena Bovina of Russia surprised eighth seed Eleni Daniilidou of Greece, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

Also, Ludmila Cervanova of Slovakia got past Germany's Jana Kandarr, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

On the men's side, 2000 champion Carlos Moya continued to thrive on clay with a 7-5, 6-4 first-round victory over Franco Squillari of Argentina. The third seed from Spain, Moya also won on this surface in February at Acapulco.

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"I feel very fit right now and just want to win," said Moya, who

halted a three-match losing streak and defeated Squillari for

the first time in four meetings. "I'm glad to be playing well,

but I want to keep the pace all the way to Roland Garros."

Also, Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty defeated Britain's Martin Lee,

6-1, 6-4, and Albert Montanes of Spain dispatched Portuguese

wild card Nuno Matias, 6-2, 6-1.

Italy's Federico Luzzi defeated Agustin Calleri of Argentina,

5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, but David Nalbandian was more successful

than his Argentine countryman as he advanced with a 6-3, 6-4

triumph over Spain's Francisco Clavet. Dutchman Sjeng Schalken

swept past Israel's Harel Levy, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

The women's champion collects $22,000, while the men's winner

gets $68,300.

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