ROME (Reuters) - Defending champion Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez tumbled out of the Italian Open at the first hurdle on Monday after losing in three sets 6-0 5-7 6-4 to Russian Ekaterina Makerova in the opening round.
The unseeded Spaniard recovered after a shocking start to regain her composure on her favoured clay and take the second set but Martinez Sanchez was always behind in the decider as Makerova sealed a fine win in breezy conditions.
The Russian, ranked 37th in the world, meets her compatriot Maria Sharapova in the second round on Center Court on Tuesday.
In further upsets, 11th-seed and twice runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova fell in three hard-fought sets 3-6 7-6 7-6 to unseeded Hungarian Greta Arn, who, at 32, is playing the best tennis of her life.
Another former finalist Patty Schnyder succumbed 6-3 6-2 to Spanish qualifier Ana Medina Garrigues, who next meets Marion Bartoli after the France player disposed of Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-3 6-2.
American teenager Christina McHale's fine run continues after the qualifier dug deep to down China's Shuai Peng 9-7 on a tie-break in the deciding set. The 18-year-old now faces local favorite and second seed Francesca Schiavone in Tuesday's second match on Center Court.
On a mixed day for Spanish players, Lourdes Dominguez Lino came through her match against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1 0-6 7-6 to set up a second-round clash against fourth seed Li Na of China.
(Reporting by Richard Allen; Editing by John Mehaffey)
