Mauresmo wins French battle

Cornet falls in three sets

Last updated: 6th October 2008

Mauresmo wins French battle

Mauresmo: came through in deciding set

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Amelie Mauresmo needed three sets to quell the challenge of fellow Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in the first round of WTA Kremlin Open.

Mauresmo, a former world number one who has dropped outside the top 20 after a run of injuries and poor form, came from 4-3 down in the decider to prevail 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-4.

Both players struggled to hold their serve on the fast indoor surface of the Olympic sports complex in Moscow, but Mauresmo's greater experience gave her the edge in the decisive moments.

The unseeded 29-year-old, who reached the final of this event five years ago, will play Dinara Safina in the second round of the $2.3 million tournament.

The top four seeds, Jelena Jankovic, Safina, Elena Dementieva and Ana Ivanovic, all received byes into the second round.

The women's field is the strongest in the 19-year history of the Kremlin Cup, with eight of the world's top 10 involved.

Only world number two Serena Williams and number six Maria Sharapova are absent because of injury.