Petrova advances at Pilot Pen tennis

Petrova was a late addition to the field Monday after an ankle injury forced former world number one Ana Ivanovic to withdraw.

"It\'s been actually, an amazing opportunity, because I feel like I need a few matches before the US Open," she said of the final tune-up tournament for the US Open.

Russia\'s Elena Dementieva almost missed the start of her first-round match and had to be tracked down on the practice courts.

She then went out and routed Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.

"Yesterday, we were waiting more than 10 hours, practising indoors, expecting to be playing today indoors," she said. "I feel lucky to be second on and finish the match."

In the men\'s draw, former champion James Blake breezed past Pere Riba of Spain 6-0, 6-1 in just 35 minutes. That is the fastest match on the men\'s tour this season.

"I tend to always play fast," Blake said. "The wins end up being a lot quicker; the losses end up being quicker too."

Fellow American Donald Young also had an easy first round, beating Stephane Robert of France 6-1, 6-2.

Lucky loser Dominka Cibulkova outlasted young American Melanie Oudin 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

Cibulkova advances to face two-time defending champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the second round. Wozniacki was still in Montreal on Monday, where she played two matches, winning the rain-plagued WTA Rogers Cup 6-3, 6-2 over Vera Zvonareva.

© Copyright AFP Agence France-Presse GmbH - All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. All reproduction or redistribution is expressly forbidden without the prior written agreement of AFP.