Rome, May 16:

Last year’s runner-up Dinara Safina overcame the rockiest of starts to survive her opening match at the Italian Open on Wednesday.

The Russian, sister of men’s star Marat Safin, had to get through an opening run of ten breaks of serve in the first 11 games before advancing in her second round match against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

The winner in the first-time battle of 21-year-olds already owns a title in 2007, starting out by lifting the trophy on Australia’s Gold Coast in January.

Fellow Russian Elena Dementieva, seeded number ten, continued a recovery from injury this spring as she beat Catalina Castano 6-4, 6-3 in their second round match.

Swiss Patty Schnyder, losing finalist in 2005 to Amelie Mauresmo, advanced over American Meilen Tu 6-4, 6-0 while Ukranian lucky loser Juliana Fedak knocked out French veteran Nathalie Dechy in a 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 comeback.

On Tuesday, Serena Williams overcame a slow start before beating Michaella Krajicek 6-4, 6-1 in the second. Williams, who revived her career by winning the Australian Open in January, improved her season record to 17-2.

Among those advancing in first-round action were No 14 seed Patty Schnyder, No 15 Katarina Srebotnik, and No 16 Tathiana Garbin.

Schnyder beat Vasilis Bardina 6-1, 6-2. Srebotnik defeated Martina Mueller 6-4, 6-2 and Garbin eliminated fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Williams had trouble gaining her footing on the red clay and gave up an early break to fall behind in the first set. The former No 1 was late getting to the ball and appeared winded after several long points.

Williams started to gain rhythm and hit several powerful backhands to break back and even the set at 4-4, then applied even more pressure during Krajicek’s next service game to break again and win the set.

Williams hadn’t played since pulling out of the United States’ Fed Cup tie with Belgium last month, citing a right knee injury After the first set, Williams had a trainer come out and attend to her left thigh.

After Williams jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set, Krajicek called for the trainer for an apparent right shoulder problem. Williams ended with 25 winners to Krajicek’s 10.

Two more top-10 players withdrew with injuries on Tuesday: No 7 Nicole Vaidisova and No 8 Ana Ivanovic.

Vaidisova, who was seeded fourth, has a right wrist injury that kept her out of last week’s German Open. Ivanovic has a left ankle injury. She reached her career-high ranking by winning the German Open, and was to be seeded 12th.