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PARIS -- Eleni Daniilidou defeated Victoria Azarenka 2-6,
6-2, 7-5 Monday to advance to the second round of the Open Gaz de
France. Katarina Srebotnik defeated Emilie Loit 6-2, 6-4, and will face
second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova. Daniilidou saved two break points in the third set and won on a
double-fault. Daniilidou was broken three times in the first set as the
18-year-old Azarenka took advantage of several unforced errors. But
she rallied, and the frustrated Azarenka threw her racket after
Daniilidou converted her first set point. "I had absolutely no confidence in the first set, which was a
very tough one for me," Daniilidou said. "It was obviously better
in the second set. Eventually, I fought hard, I served better and I
felt very good both physically and emotionally." Daniilidou will meet either Amelie Mauresmo or American
qualifier Julie Ditty in the next round. Mauresmo is looking to
improve upon a disappointing 2007 season, which was marred by
injuries.
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