Davenport advances at Bali International

BALI/INDONESIA: Ana Ivanovic and Daniela Hantuchova both slumped to first round defeats at the Bali International on Tuesday. Fourth-seeded Ivanovic was beaten 6-3 4-6 6-2 by 103rd-ranked Russian Olga Poutchkova, while fifth seed Hantuchova fell 7-5 6-2 to 82nd-ranked Melinda Czink of Hungary.

Defending champion Lindsay Davenport survived a strong challenge from Russian Galina Voskoboeva before winning 7-5 6-1.

Hantuchova, seeded fifth, admitted that the ghost of Serena Williams came back to haunt her in the first-round loss to the Hungarian. The willowy Slovak, who led 5-2 in the first first set before collapsing, said the identical scenario against Williams in the US Open second round was preying on her mind. That was enough to make sure the upset scenario again became reality. “I was thinking about that match during this one,” said a player who has yet to get past a third round since Wimbledon. “It’s tough for me to change that kind of (negative) thinking under match pressure. I played badly and she played well, it was one of those days...”

French sixth seed Marion Bartoli advanced over a local as she defeated Ayu-Fani Damayanti of Indonesia 6-1 6-0. Australian Casey Dellacqua put out Indonesian Lavinia Tananta 6-0 6-2. In other first-round results, Japan’s Erika Takao beat home hope Vivien Silfany 6-3 6-1 while Czech Hana Sromova advanced over Japan’s Junri Namigata 6-3 6-1.