Dinara Safina is beaten again in 1st round

Published November 20, 2014

Dinara Safina has lost in the first round for the second straight week as she prepares for the Australian Open.

The former No. 1 player was routed by Marion Bartoli of France 6-0, 6-1 Monday at the Hobart International. Safina is trying to recover her form after a serious back injury. The Russian lost to Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium last week in Auckland.

Bartoli called Safina a "very tough opponent" in what she thought was a "really great match."

Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S. reached the second round when Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia quit because of a hip injury at the start of the second set. The American won the first set 6-2.

The Australian Open in Melbourne begins Jan. 17.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/dinara-safina-is-beaten-again-in-1st-round