Dubai: At least four of the top eight seeds went through safely into the next round on the opening day of qualifying at the 20th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge being played at the Habtoor Grand Resort Autograph Collection, on Saturday.

Sixth-seeded Katherine Sebov of Canada was the lone seed to fall as she lost to French girl Fiona Ferro 6-4, 6-0 on the first day as the other four seeds eased through.

Third seed Tereza Mrdeza of Croatia defeated Aleksandra Pospelova 6-4, 7-5 after fourth seed Fanni Stollar of Hungary had secured a 6-4, 6-2 win against Elena Rybakina of Russia.

Fifth seed Amra Sadikovic of Switzerland was also an easy 6-3, 6-0 winner over Romanian Oana Gavrila after 2007 Wimbledon quarter-finalist Michaela Krajicek — younger half-sister of former world No. 4 and Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek — had got the better of a second Romanian, Nicoleta-Catalina Dascalu 6-4, 6-2.

Results on Day One of the qualifying rounds for the 20th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge at the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge being held at the Al Habtoor Beach Resort and Spa: Sabrina Santamaria bt Lisa Ponomar 7-5, 6-1; Valeria Savinykh bt Vivian Heisen 6-0, 6-3; Greta Arn bt Alicja Rosolska 6-3, 6-1; Fanni Stollar bt Elena Rybakina 6-4, 6-2; Amra Sadikovic bt Oana Gavrila 6-3, 6-0; Michaella Krajicek bt Nicoleta-Catalina Dascalu 6-4, 6-2; Tereza Mrdeza bt Aleksandra Pospelova 6-4, 7-5; Reka-Luca Jani bt Angelina Gabueva 4-6, 6-2, 7-5; Fiona Ferro bt Katherine Sebov 6-4, 6-0.

Source : gulfnews.com