Ivanovic advances, Makarova ousted in Madrid first round
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Madrid, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Ana Ivanovic prevailed in her opening- round match but Ekaterina Makarova was an upset victim as play commenced Saturday at the Madrid Open.
The seventh-seeded Ivanovic was leading in the third set against wild card Alexandra Dulgheru when the Romanian retired with Ivanovic owning a 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 4-0 lead.
Makarova, seeded eighth in this clay-court WTA Premier Mandatory event, was trounced by two-time Grand Slam champion and fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova by a 6-2, 6-1 count.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ninth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and No. 13 Lucie Safarova each won their first-round bouts in straight sets, with Radwanska topping wild card Lara Arruabarrena 6-4, 6-3 and Safarova posting a 6-4, 6-2 decision over American Alison Riske.
Other opening day victors on Saturday included Kaia Kanepi, Casey Dellacqua, Irina-Camelia Begu and Sloane Stephens, who bested fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Top-seeded Serena Williams and defending champion Maria Sharapova highlight Sunday's first-round participants. Williams, who titled here in 2013 and 2014, will take on American Madison Brengle. Sharapova, seeded third behind Williams and Simona Halep, will square off against Timea Bacsinszky.