China Open: Mauresmo shocked

Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo slumped to her second first-round defeat by Slovak teenager Dominika Cibulkova in a week when she lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 at the China Open on Monday.

The 29-year-old Frenchwoman, who has been plagued by injuries this season, was bundled out of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo last week by Cibulkova after blowing four match points.

Up a set and leading 4-3 in the second, Mauresmo's wasteful ways came to the fore again, as errant groundstrokes combined with a crumbling first serve to allow her 19-year-old opponent to close out the match.

"It is really tough to lose again in the first round here," the former Australian Open [Images] and Wimbledon [Images] champion told reporters.

"I have to forget this and get myself adjusted to this reality, so that I can go back to the right track ASAP."

In a scratchy contest played in blustery conditions and littered with unforced errors from both sides, Mauresmo emerged the most culpable with 13 double-faults, several committed on key points.

Having conceded the second set with a double fault, Mauresmo's serve failed her again after leading 3-1 in the third, with a rash of double faults opening the door for Cibulkova to break her twice.

The Slovak, who grew in confidence as Mauresmo's serve imploded, coolly served out the match to advance to a likely second-round encounter with Russia's [Images] Anna Chakvetadze [Images].

Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova [Images] overcame the disappointment of her first-round exit at the Pan Pacific Open, the world number 13 cruising to a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 victory over Gisela Dulko of Argentina.

Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain also advanced, edging out Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki 7-6, 6-4.

Russian world number three Dinara Safina earlier withdrew with a lower back injury.

Spanish world number 16 Tommy Robredo will meet compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Tuesday in the first round of the men's draw, which boasts Masters Cup hopefuls David Ferrer and big-serving American Andy Roddick [Images].

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