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TOKYO: Former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia tumbled out of the Pan Pacific Open in the first round on Sunday after failing to find her rhythm.
She became the first seeded player to exit the two-million-dollar event, which includes 25 of the world's top 30 players and is being played on the outdoor hard courts at the Ariake Coliseum.
Lucie Safarova, the world's 44th-ranked player, defeated 10th-seeded Ivanovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/1) in one hour and 26 minutes, after the Czech also beat the Serb at the Rogers Cup in Toronto a month ago.
Ivanovic was also ousted in the first round of the US Open earlier this month, when she was beaten by Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko.
"It wasn't the best match Ana did," Safarova said. "We played against each other in Toronto. It was a much better match, much tougher."
Ivanovic struggled with her first-serve percentage, hitting only 40 percent for the match and double-faulted 11 times.
The 22-year-old Czech said memories of her Toronto victory against the 2008 French Open winner came back to her before the match here.
"But you never know how she was going to play against you here. It was not the best game I could play. I was a little bit nervous," said Safarova, whose first-serve percentage was 56 and who double-faulted three times.
"It's very tough to play when you don't serve very well. To every one of us, it happens," Safarova said.
Also Sunday, Roberta Vinci of Italy overwhelmed ninth seed and compatriot Flavia Pennetta 6-1, 6-2.
Li Na of China, seeded 15th, defeated Alize Cornet of France 6-4, 6-0. - AFP/de
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