Vinci opens with a victory at Palermo Open

13 July 2011 - 11:18 By Sapa-AP
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Roberta Vinci of Italy plays a backhand during first round match against Sara Errani of Italy during day three of the Internazoinali BNL D'Italia at the Foro Italico Tennis Centre on May 10, 2011 in Rome, Italy
Roberta Vinci of Italy plays a backhand during first round match against Sara Errani of Italy during day three of the Internazoinali BNL D'Italia at the Foro Italico Tennis Centre on May 10, 2011 in Rome, Italy
Image: Clive Brunskill

Fresh off her third title of the year, second-seeded Roberta Vinci beat Kazakh qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva 6-2, 7-5 in the opening round of the Palermo Open on Tuesday.

Vinci’s victory in Budapest on Sunday made her the first Italian  woman to win three titles in one year, and she is threatening Flavia Pennetta to become the second-best ranked Italian after Francesca Schiavone.

   Schiavone is ranked No. 8, Pennetta is No. 21 and Vinci is up to  a career-best No. 23 this week.

   Third-seeded Sara Errani of Italy beat Regina Kulikova of Russia  6-1, 6-3.

   Also advancing were No. 4 Klara Zakopalova, No.5 Anabel Medina Garrigues — a four-time winner of this clay-court tournament — No.7 Polona Hercog and No.8 Petra Cetkovska.

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