Top seed Saori Obata of Japan has been upset in the first round of the Indian Open tennis tournament in Hyderabad. Obata was beaten by compatriot Yuka Yoshida in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.
Obata is ranked 39th in the world and was top-seeded for the first time in a WTA Tour event, but she committed too many unforced errors against an opponent who was familiar with her game.
In other matches, fifth seed Jelena Kostanic of Croatia needed three sets to get past Isha Lakhani of India, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Sixth seed Jie Zheng of China won in two close sets over Yulia Beygelzimer of Ukraine (6-4, 7-6). Eighth seeded Lubomira Kurhajcova of Slovakia won in straight sets over Italian Antonella Serra Zanetti (6-3, 6-3).
Also Monday, Russia Galina Fokina was a three-set winner over Andreea Vanc of Romania (6-2, 6-7, 6-1). And Adriana Serra Zanetti of Italy defeated Julia Schruff of Germany in straight sets (6-3, 6-2).