DUBAI: Pattaya Open winner Daniela Hantuchova became dizzy for a time while losing to Anna Chakvetadze of Russia 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of the Dubai Championships Tuesday. Hantuchova beat world No. 3 Vera Zvonareva en route to collecting her first title in nearly four years in humid Thailand Sunday, but couldn't get going against Chakvetadze. Hantuchova said she became dizzy and “couldn't keep track of the score” at one point. Petra Kvitova also lost in the first round, falling to Ayumi Morita 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3) only two days after beating Kim Clijsters to win a tournament in France. The Czech player, who has won three titles in her career, lost for only the second time this season. Another surprise loser was former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, who fell 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 to Patty Schnyder of Switzerland. Sara Errani of Italy, who lost in the Pattaya final, advanced by beating Slovak qualifier Zuzana Kucova 6-1, 6-4. Another Italian, Flavia Pennetta, landed only 43 percent of her first serves but still defeated Australian wild card Jelena Dokic 6-2, 6-2. Sania Mirza of India advanced beating Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan 6-3, 6-1. Shahar Peer of Israel, a semifinalist last year, beat Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain 6-4, 6-1. Peer was barred from the 2009 tournament because she's Israeli. This year, she has extra security and her own compound. Still, she said she felt very comfortable in Dubai, where she lost to Venus Williams last year and was seeded ninth this year. Almagro advances In Argentina, top-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain, fresh from winning the Brazil Open, advanced to the second round of the clay-court Copa Claro Tuesday with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Pablo Galdon of Argentina. Fifth-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina also moved on, defeating Ivan Navarro of Spain 6-2, 7-6 (2). Top 2 women lose In Memphis, top seeds Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and Sofia Arvidsson both lost opening-round matches in straight sets at the Cellular South Cup Monday. No. 1-seeded Zahlavova Strycova, of the Czech Republic, lost 6-1, 6-3 to Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands. No. 2 Arvidsson, a Swede who won her first title at the 2006 Cellular Cup, lost 6-3, 6-1 to American Alexandra Stevenson. Arvidsson was a finalist last year, losing to champion Maria Sharapova, who did not return this year to defend her title. American Melanie Oudin, seeded No. 3 in the women's bracket, defeated Anastasia Pivovarova of Russia 6-4, 6-0, while sixth-seeded Rebecca Marino of Canada downed American Jamie Hampton 6-4, 6-1. Oudin will next play Evgeniya Rodina of Russia, who rallied to beat Croatia's Ajla Tomljanovic 1-6, 6-0, 7-6 (5). In addition to the top two seeds departing, fifth-seed Olga Govortsova of Belarus dropped a three set match to qualifier Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. On the men's side, eighth-seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa lost to American Robert Kendrick 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (4). Anderson was the only seeded player in Monday's opening round of the men's draw.
