Tennis: Kournikova ends run of defeats

Anna Kournikova ended a run of five defeats with a win over Jana Kandarr in the first round of the SEAT Open.

The Russian won 6-2 7-5 to register her first win since coming back from a stress fracture of her left foot last month.

The fourth seed now faces a second-round match with Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova who defeated Andrea Glass.

Meanwhile, sixth seed Lisa Raymond won a hard-fought match with Spain's Marta Marrero 6-2 2-6 6-4.

Raymond will face another Spanish teenager in the second round, Anabel Medina Garrigues, who beat Argentine qualifier Maria Emilia Salerni, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.

There was more American success for Jennifer Hopkins who fought back to take French wild card Virginie Razzano 6-2 4-6 6-4.