Mason, OH – Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone was an opening-round upset victim Monday at the WTA's $2.168 million Western & Southern Open.
The 14th-seeded Schiavone succumbed to wild card and fellow Italian Camila Giorgi 6-1, 6-3 on the hardcourts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Meanwhile, Hungarian lucky-loser Timea Babos bested American Varvara Lepchenko 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, while Greek Eleni Daniilidou defeated American and fellow qualifier Vania King 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6).
Also on Day 1, Swedish qualifier Johanna Larsson whipped Aussie Casey Dellacqua 6-1, 6-3; Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues drubbed Romanian Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0; German Julia Goerges topped Israeli Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-3; and German Mona Barthel handled Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-0, 6-4;
This week's top seeds are Agnieszka Radwanska, Wimbledon and Olympic gold medal champion Serena Williams, U.S. Open titlist Sam Stosur and last year's Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova.
Williams captured a pair of gold medals at the London Games two weeks ago.
"It was really awesome to win both medals at the Olympics," said the 30-year- old star. "I just want to keep playing well and doing the best that I can.
"More Slams obviously is what I want to go for. I definitely have goals that I want to try to reach," the former world No. 1 added.
Williams will face the aforementioned Daniilidou in the second round.
Russian star Maria Sharapova, who is not defending her title this week, beat 2009 winner Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in last year's Cincy finale.
The 2012 Cincinnati champion will earn $385,000.
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