LINZ, Austria -- Title-holder Ai Sugiyama of Japan cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 first-round victory over Venezuelan Maria Vento-Kabchi to reach the second round of the $585,000 Generali Ladies Open at the Intersport Arena in Linz Tuesday.
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Daniela Hantuchova beat American qualifier Lindsay Lee-Waters in three sets to go through as well.
Defending champion Sugiyama cruised past Vento-Kabchi, taking revenge for her recent loss to the South American earlier this year in Miami. The sixth seed broke Vento-Kabchi in game two of the opener and went on to take the set 6-0. While the Venezuelan had three break points in the first set, the second was even more one-sided and Sugiyama wrapped up victory in 41 minutes.
"I played really well today and I am very pleased. Looking at last year's victory, I have a lot to come up to. It's definitely special," Sugiyama said.
She will now play Hantuchova, who won 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 after Lee-Waters had a jump start to the match, breaking Hantuchova twice and rushing to a 4-0 lead.
While favored Hantuchova was struggling with her serve and producing a huge amount of unforced errors, the American showed a nearly faultless opening set.
Lee-Waters continually put her rival under pressure with a crashing backhand return and converted her third set point to take the opener.
In the second set, Lee-Waters broke Hantuchova in the first game, however, this time, the Slovak managed to break back and then showed better nerves to prevail.
While Hantuchova appeared much more determined in the final set and gradually raised the quality of her game, Lee-Waters dropped her intensity and allowed her rival a break in game one.
The 21-year-old Slovak pulled away 4-0 and wrapped up the match -- her second victory over Lee-Waters after their first duel in New Haven this year ended with Hantuchova winning in two sets.
"Lindsay was very strong at the start and my service was terrible. But when I increased the pace, I could turn the tables," Hantuchova said.
In a hard battle, American Meghann Shaughnessy eliminated eighth-seeded Croat Karolina Sprem 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.
