- CARLSBAD, California: No.
- 16 seed Polona Hercog needed more than two hours before defeating qualifier Natalie Grandin, 7-6 (1), 2-6, 6-4 in a first-round match at the Mercury Insurance Open on Monday.
Only two seeded players saw action in a tournament hit hard by injuries. No. 2-ranked Kim Clijsters of Belgium, who skipped Wimbledon because of an ankle injury, pulled out with the same injury.
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic withdrew because of a pulled abdominal muscle. A groin injury knocked out two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.
No. 9 seed Roberta Vinci of Italy rebounded for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win against Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski. After a close first two sets, Vinci dominated the final set as she twice broke Jovanovski’s serve and held off three break points on her serve.

