Pierce on comeback trail

Sanchez-Vicario beat Tina Pisnik in the first round

 First round results from Berlin

Former French Open champion Mary Pierce showed that she is on the comeback trail with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Mariana Diaz-Oliva at the German Open.

Pierce, who has struggled with injury in the last couple of seasons, raced through the first set before having to fight hard in the second.

Errors began to creep into her own game while her Argentine opponent put up stronger resistance.

The French player had to save a couple of set points but came through to book her place in the second round.

It's great to be back playing on the clay that I love but there's still a lot of work to do

Mary Pierce

Another player returning from injury is Chanda Rubin, who beat Spain's Magui Serna 6-4 5-7 6-4.

Rubin, playing her first match of the year after knee and Achilles problems, had to stage a comeback after trailing 4-0 in the final set.

The American now faces Indian Wells winner Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, who beat Argentine Paola Suarez 7-5 3-6 6-1.

"The conditions were pretty tough," said 19-year-old Hantuchova, who fought off an inconsistent mid-match spell in breezy, cold conditions.

South African 15th seed Amanda Coetzer was forced to retire in the second set of her match against Daja Bedanova of the Czech Republic with a thigh strain.

Triple French Open champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario beat Tina Pisnik of Slovenia 6-4, 6-1 to set up a meeting with fellow Spaniard Conchita Martinez in the next round.

"I always play well here. The new generation are on the way up - but I am in good form," said 30-year-old Sanchez-Vicario, who is seeded 13.

Thailand's 16th seed Tamarine Tanasugarn fought past Jennifer Hopkins of the United States 6-0 4-6 6-4.

And German wildcard Martina Muller upset Paraguay's Rossana Neffa de los Rios 7-5 6-1.

---

German Open first round results:

C Martinez (Sp) bt E Daniilidou (Gre) 7-5 6-1
D Bedanova (Cze) bt (15) A Coetzer (SA) 6-3 1-0 retired
C Rubin (US) bt M Serna (Sp) 6-4 5-7 6-4
(11) D Hantuchova (Svk) bt P Suarez (Arg) 7-5 3-6 6-1
M Muller (Ger) bt R Neffa de los Rios (Par) 7-5 6-1
(16) T Tanasugarn (Tha) bt J Hopkins (US) 6-0 4-6 6-4
(10) S Farina Elia (It) bt K Srebotnik (Slo) 3-6 6-4 6-4
M Maleeva (Bul) bt M Marrero (Sp) 6-1 1-6 7-6 (7/5)
B Schett (Aut) bt F Schiavone (It) 6-2 6-2
(13) A Sanchez-Vicario (Sp) bt T Pisnik (Slo) 6-4 6-1
M Pierce (Fr) bt M Diaz-Oliva (Arg) 6-1 7-5
C Black (Zim) bt L Osterloh (US) 6-0 6-3

Back to top