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Williams out of Kremlin Cup

08/10/2008

World number eight Venus Williams has slumped to defeat against Flavia Pennetta in the first round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

The American, who has now lost three times in four meetings against her Italian nemesis, looked out of sorts as she surrendered the first set 6-4.

And despite battling back impressively in the second to win 6-2 and level the match, Pennetta out-fought Williams in the decider 6-4 to earn a three-set victory.

Elsewhere, world number 15 Marion Bartoli was also eliminated from the tournament in the opening round but in rather more unfortunate circumstances.

The Frenchwoman, a Wimbledon finalist in 2007, was forced to retire from her clash with unseeded Slovak Dominika Cibulkova at 1-6 1-4 due to a toe injury.

However, former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo was one of the other big names to progress, despite being made to battle by French counterpart Alize Cornet.

Mauresmo lost the first set on a tiebreak before taking the second and a battling performance from Cornet kept the match close in the decider.

But the former world number one's experience told as she wrapped up victory, winning the final three games from 4-3 down for a 6-7 6-3 6-4 win.