Suarez Surprises Safina in a First-Round Match

Paola Suarez upset 15th-ranked Dinara Safina, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, Monday in the first round of the Acura Classic.

Suarez, ranked 55th in the world, bounced back from losing the first set to take control of the match against her ninth-seeded opponent, one of 10 Russians in the event.

Most of the top players begin play today in a tournament that features six of tennis’ top 10 women, including No. 2 Kim Clijsters.

Flavia Pennetta, seeded 12th, defeated Lisa Raymond, 7-5, 6-3. Ana Ivanovic, seeded 14th, beat Akiko Morigami, 6-2, 6-1.

Qualifier Virginia Ruano Pascual surprised Elena Likhovtseva, 6-4, 6-3.

Jelena Jankovic beat 16th-seeded Maria Kirilenko, 6-1, 6-4.

Qualifier Kateryna Bondarenko defeated 14-year-old Coco Vandeweghe, 6-4, 6-2.

In other matches, Emma Laine defeated Vania King, 6-4, 6-2; qualifier Meilen Tu beat Laura Granville, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2; Jamea Jackson beat Mariana Diaz-Oliva, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; and qualifier Vasilisa Bardina defeated Meng Yuan, 6-4, 6-2.

From the Associated Press