Errani advances in Stuttgart

Stuttgart - Eighth seed Sara Errani and former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova have posted straight-set wins Tuesday to reach the second round of the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

The Italian Errani fought from a double break down at 3-0 in the second set to beat Czech Klara Koukalova 6-3, 6-4 in 1 hour 17 minutes Kuznetsova ousted 228th-ranked Italian qualifier Giora Barbieri 6-2, 6-3 in 65 minutes on the first match point.

The Russian, who won 2009 in Stuttgart, is a former top five player currently ranked 29th.

Kuznetsova next meets second seed Simona Halep of Romania while Errani, a 2013 French Open semi-finalist and four-time doubles grand slam winner, plays Estonia's Kaia Kanepi.

In other early action at the indoor clay event, Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro defeated Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-0, 6-4 to set up a meeting with German fourth seed Angelique Kerber.

The four top seeds, led by Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska and also including Czech Petra Kvitova have first-round byes.

Set to play later Tuesday was two-time reigning champion Maria Sharapova of Russia, the sixth seed, against Czech Lucie Safarova.

Results on Tuesday from the WTA Stuttgart Grand Prix (x denotes seeding):

First round:

Carla Suarez (ESP) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-0, 6-4
Sara Errani (ITA x8) bt Klara Koukalova (CZE) 6-3, 6-4
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) bt Gioia Barbieri (ITA) 6-2, 6-3
Roberta Vinci (ITA) bt Annika Beck (GER) 6-3, 6-2
Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) 6-2, 6-4