New Haven, CT – Fourth seed Marion Bartoli was an easy first- round winner Monday at the $618,000 New Haven Open, a final hardcourt U.S. Open tuneup.
The French Bartoli, a Wimbledon semifinalist last month, handled Aussie Anastasia Rodionova 6-1, 6-4 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University.
Italian Roberta Vinci continued her fine 2011 season with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Czech Lucie Hradecka.
Additional opening-round wins came for Spanish lucky-loser Carla Suarez Navarro and Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska.
This week's top seeds are world No. 1 and three-time reigning champion Caroline Wozniacki and French Open winner and Australian Open runner-up Li Na. The Danish Wozniacki defeated Russian Nadia Petrova in last year's New Haven finale for her third straight title here.
The 2011 New Haven titlist will earn $103,000.
Fox News First
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.