Stosur returns in fine style

Australian Samantha Stosur has made a triumphant return to the WTA Tour, defeating Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek in the opening round of the Italian Open in Rome on Monday.

Playing in her first WTA Tour match since last year's US Open, Stosur was too strong for Krajicek, winning 6-3 6-2 to set up a second-round showdown with six-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams. Williams has not played for a month due to injury.

Stosur is on the comeback trail from Lyme's disease, a bacterial illness which sidelined her for eight months.

There were few surprises on Monday as all four seeded players in action moved through to the second round of the clay-court event.

Russian 11th seed Vera Zvonareva, who is quietly putting together an impressive season, advanced with a 6-3 6-3 win over Japan's Ai Sugiyama.

Agnes Szavay, the No.10 seed, also advanced with a comprehensive 6-1 6-1 win against China's Zi Yan.

Riding a wave of local support, 17th seed Francesca Schiavone booked her spot to the second round by ousting Czech Lucie Safarova, 6-4 7-5. The Italian No.1 will face the winner of Tuesday's match between Vera Dushevina and Alize Cornet.

The No.12 seed here, Polish hope Agnieszka Radwanska completed the perfect day for seeded players with an impressive 6-3 6-0 victory against Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova.

First-round results from the Italian Open, Rome
10-Vera Zvonareva (Russia) def. Ai Sugiyama (Japan) 6-3 6-3
11-Agnes Szavay (Hungary) def. Yan Zi (China) 6-1 6-1
12-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) def. Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzbekistan) 6-3 6-0
17-Francesca Schiavone (Italy) def. Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) 6-4 7-5
Samantha Stosur (Australia) def. Michaella Krajicek (Netherlands) 6-3 6-2
Alona Bondarenko (Ukraine) def. Mara Santangelo (Italy) 6-2 6-2
Virginie Razzano (France) def. Julia Vakulenko (Ulkraine) 6-1 6-2
Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spain) def. Alisa Kleybanova (Russia) 6-1 7-5
Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) def. Tamira Paszek (Austria) 6-3 6-0
Olga Govortsova (Belarus) def. Karin Knapp (Italy) 4-6 6-1 6-2
Iveta Benesova (Czech Republic) def. Elena Vesnina (Russia) 6-3 7-5
Monica Niculescu (Romania) def. Jill Craybas (USA) 6-4 3-6 6-4
Virginia Ruano Pascual (Spain) def. Anastasia Rodionova (Russia) 6-1 6-3
Sara Errani (Italy) def. Peng Shuai (China) 6-4 1-6 6-3