Safina wins, Ivanovic crashed out in Korea Open tennis

SEOUL: Former world number one Ana Ivanovic was bundled out of the WTA Korea Open on Wednesday, but there was better news for Dinara Safina who continued her comeback from injury with a battling win.

The 22-year-old Serbian, who won the 2008 French Open before her slide down the rankings, blew a one set lead against Russia's Vera Dushevina to crash out in the first round 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the rain-hit tournament.

It was a disappointing end for Ivanovic, who made the fourth round of the US Open this month as she tries to recapture her best form under the guidance of former Steffi Graf coach Heinz Guenthardt.

Safina, also a former world number one, fared better, overcoming Romania's Simona Halep 6-4, 6-4.

The Russian was handed a wildcard as she fights back from a lower back injury and will now play her compatriot, the third seeded Maria Kirilenko, who beat Poland's Urszula Radwanska in straight sets.

In other matches, 39-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm, the defending champion, beat fellow Japanese Junri Namigata while second seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia sent Australia's Anastasia Rodionova packing.

Big-hitting Russian Nadia Petrova is the top seed in Seoul and she swept past Jarmila Groth 6-3, 6-2, bringing the Australian back down to Earth after her maiden WTA title at the Guangzhou Open in China on Sunday.