WTA

• Safina moves on in California

  Carlsbad, CA (Sports Network) - Russian Dinara Safina was a straight-set winner in first-round play Monday at the $700,000 Mercury Insurance Open.

  Safina cruised in the first set before prevailing in a tough second set, beating Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko by a 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) score at La Costa Resort and Spa. This San Diego event was last held in 2007.

  The struggling Safina is a former No. 1 who has dropped down to No. 35 in the world.

  Additionally on Monday, Russian Alisa Kleybanova was a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 winner over France's Aravane Rezai, while Italian Sara Errani beat Belarus' Olga Govortsova, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.

  The top seeds here are former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, French Open runner- up Samantha Stosur and Wimbledon runner-up Vera Zvonareva.

  This week's big winner will take home $107,000.

  08/03 00:54:58 ET