Bartoli survives seeded slaughter at Eastbourne

Jun 18, 2008, 16:08 GMT

Eastbourne, England - Two of the top three seeds were dumped from the Eastbourne Championships on Wednesday, leaving number two Marion Bartoli the only elite survivor.

Former champion and top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova made a horror start to her grass season, crashing to a 6-2, 6-2 opening loss against Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki.

The 2004 US Open winner who played a Roland Garros semi-final this month, was unable to impose her game on the 17-year-old ranked who won junior Wimbledon two years ago.

Kuznetsova struck a massive eight double-faults in a tricky wind to lost any chance of a fightback.

'It was pretty disgusting. Everything on grass is just the opposite of playing on clay,' said Kuznetsova. 'She played very loose and I was so tight.

'I'm very disappointed, but this can happen in tennis. I just don't want to think of Wimbledon just yet.'

Wozniacki said her victory in just over an hour qualified as the best of her brief career. 'I like the fast, flat game.

'I had never won a set off of of a top player. This is my best win, she's a world number four who has won a Grand Slam.'

Qualifier Ekaterina Makarova completed knockout scenario as she won an all-Russian battle over number three Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-3.

There was shock success for Australian Samantha Stosur, who needed just 14 minutes to advance 1-2 when unseeded 2006 Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo quit with a left thigh injury.

'I felt something on the last point of my first service game,' said Mauresmo, who won Wimbledon two years ago. 'In the next game I felt I couldn't move well any more or push off on my left leg.

'I don't feel like taking any more risks before Wimbledon. I'm disappointed but I had to stop here.'

2007 Wimbledon finalist Bartoli lifted her game just in time for her victory after a dreadful season so far in 2008. The French player ranked 11th, tamed a tricky wind with an easy 6-3, 6-0 defeat of Sybille Bammer.

Bartoli, who lost the Wimbledon final a year ago to Venus Williams, admitted that her fortunes have turned as the grass season begins.

Less than a month ago, the 23-year-old was yearning for a long break from the sport. 'I feel great, I'm healthy and eager,' said the second seed. 'This is the first week of the year that I've felt this good.'

Bartoli, whose victory in 59 minutes was only her ninth of a poor season against 14 losses, said she has gotten over her frustration.

'I've had so many injuries - my wrist, my knee, my leg, my Achilles tendon,' she said, adding that her latest problem - the wrist - is now fine.

'When you can't train at 100 per cent, it's tough. I feel that the bad things that have happened in the first part of the year will help me out later.'

Bartoli said that she has the game to deal with wind: 'I'm used to it. Here, if it's not windy, it's raining.

'I can deal with it in my game, but she has a high toss on serve and maybe it tougher for her.'