Stosur wins Carlsbad opener
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Former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur posted a first-round victory Monday at the $795,000 Southern California Open tennis event.
The fifth-seeded Australian handled American Varvara Lepchenko 7-5, 6-1 on the hardcourts at La Costa Resort and Spa.
Sixth-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic also prevailed, while 2010 champ Svetlana Kuznetsova was ousted. Jankovic battled back to fend off American Mallory Burdette, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Kuznetsova dropped a 6-2, 6-4 decision to French wild card Virginie Razzano.
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This week's top seed is 2013 Australian Open champion and 2012 U.S. Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka. Her second-round opponent will be Francesca Schiavone, a 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 winner over fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta.
American Bethanie Mattek-Sands also advanced with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Puerto Rico's Monica Puig.
Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova, fresh off her title last week in Stanford, topped reigning Wimbledon champ Marion Bartoli in last year's Carlsbad finale.
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This week's winner will claim $125,000.