(Updates after Vaidisova match)
By Julien Pretot
PARIS, Feb 6 - Czech Nicole Vaidisova thrashed
Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai 6-2 6-1 to reach the second round of
the Paris Open on Tuesday.
The fifth seed, who allowed Rezai only 10 points on her
serve, wrapped up the tie in 59 minutes to set up a clash with
compatriot Lucie Safarova in a rematch of their Australian Open
quarter-final in the next round.
Vaidisova, who beat Safarova in Melbourne, broke decisively
in the fifth game to claim the first set in 30 minutes and never
looked back.
Rezai, who was beaten by the world number nine in the second
round of last year's French Open, struggled to cope with
Vaidisova's ruthlessly efficient groundstrokes and lost her
serve three times in the second set.
Earlier on Tuesday, Safarova beat Bulgarian qualifier
Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 6-7 6-3.
Safarova, who turned 20 last Sunday, broke into the
limelight at this year's Australian Open when she beat then
champion Amelie Mauresmo in the fourth round before falling to
Vaidisova in the quarter-final of the first grand slam
tournament of the year.
World number 32 Safarova seemed on track for an easy win
over 78th-ranked Pironkova when she claimed the first set after
making the most of her only break point.
Pironkova responded strongly in the second, saving three
break points to force Safarova into a tiebreak which the
Bulgarian won 7-5.
The Czech held her nerve in the decider, saving seven break
points and breaking her opponent's serve twice to snatch the win
in two hours and nine minutes.
"It was a very tough match. She plays very well. It was very
important to win because she beta me there last year," said
Safarova.
Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik went through earlier by
thrashing French qualifier Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-1 6-4.
The world number 23 got off to a flying start and wrapped up
the win in 63 minutes. She will face Russian third seed Svetlana
Kuznetsova for a place in the quarter-finals.
"I am very happy with the way I played today. I'll give my
best in the next round against Svetlana hoping she will be a bit
rusty entering the tournament," Srebotnik said.
France's Nathalie Dechy made light work of Italian Tathiana
Garbin, winning 6-2 6-3 in 72 minutes to set up a second round
clash with compatriot Amelie Mauresmo.
"I would have preferred to play against someone else but I
am not going to back off," said Dechy, who beat Mauresmo in the
second round of the Eastbourne tournament last year.
The four top seeds, Belgian Justine Henin, Mauresmo and
Russians Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova, have been granted a bye
for the first round and will start playing on Wednesday or
Thursday.