Krajicek, Smashnova advance at Palermo

PALERMO, Italy, July 17 (UPI) -- Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands won her opening match, 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5 over Swiss Emmanuelle Gagliardi at the Palermo International tennis tourney.

The 17-year-old Dutchwoman is the third seed at the $145,000 red clay-court event at Palermo's Country Time Club. Fifth-seeded Anna Smashnova of Israel easily dispatched Yuliana Fedal of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-2.

Last year's runner-up, sixth-seeded Czech Klara Koukalova ousted Stephanie Foretz of France in straight-sets, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the second round.