Three-time winner Lindsay Davenport beat Vania King in the first round of the Amelia Island event.
American cruises through but Bartoli loses again
Three-time winner Lindsay Davenport beat Vania King in the first round of the Bausch & Lomb Championship.
The American began her quest for a fourth title at Amelia Island with a comfortable 6-2 6-3 success, despite the clay surface not being to her liking.
Davenport, who won the title in 1997, 2004 and 2005, said: "Definitely, it's not my strong suit playing on clay, but I like playing this tournament a lot.
"I like that court a lot. I was able to serve really well, so that obviously helped.
"I've got to try and play a hard-court game on this court. It's worked for me in the past. But the important thing for me to remember is every day and every match that I get under my belt, I improve immensely."
The 16th seed will meet another American in the second round when she takes on Jill Craybas.
Fourth seed Marion Bartoli is out, however, after suffering her eighth defeat in 10 matches.
Last year's Wimbledon runner-up was beaten 4-6 6-2 6-4 by Belarus teenager Olga Govortsova.
No.1 seed Maria Sharapova made a winning start to her debut at the event with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
Sharapova, who is now 19-1 for 2008, kept her cool as Zahlavova Strycova's temper boiled over, with the Czech player throwing and slamming her racket and rowing with the umpire.
Sharapova said: "I started well and got a good advantage in the first set.
"There were obviously a lot of things that hopefully I will be improving from this match, but it was a good start."
