Kournikova makes it through first round

After dropping the first set, sixth-seeded Anna Kournikova beat Tara Snyder 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the opening-round of the Family Circle Cup in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Kournikova, who advanced to the final of last year's event, struggled with unforced errors in first set on Tuesday.

"It was a very strange match," said Kournikova, who had a first-round bye. "She (Snyder) goes for (winners). It's either in or out, so there's no in between. It was kind of difficult to get a rhythm."

Once the 18-year-old Russian got it, though, it didn't take her long to finish off Snyder, claiming 15 of the last 16 points to win the last two sets in 56 minutes.

The highest seed to play, No 3 Monica Seles, dispatched Erika de Lone 6-0, 6-0. Seles said her game was all there.

"Some nights you play well, some nights you don't," Seles said. "I'm happy when it all comes together."

Beaten on Tuesday were No 10 Silvija Talaja, who fell 7-6 (6), 6-1 to Kristina Brandi, and No 16 Anne Kremer, who lost 6-4, 6-2 to Nicole Pratt.

No 9 Elena Likhovtseva was a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 winner over Lilia Osterloh; No 12 Lisa Raymond beat Asa Carlsson 6-4, 6-2; No 13 Patty Schnyder beat Sonya Jeyasselan 6-3, 6-1; No 14 Corina Morariu beat Andrea Glass 6-4, 5-7, 6-3; and No 15 Elena Dementieva beat Seda Noorlander 6-2, 6-3.

Results from the $1.1 million WTA Family Circle Cup:

Singles First Round

Elena Dementieva (15), Russia, def. Seda Noorlander, Netherlands, 6-2, 6-3. Lisa Raymond (12), United States, def. Asa Carlsson, Sweeden, 6-4, 6-2. Kristina Brandi, United States, def. Silvija Talaja, Croatia, 7-6 (6), 6-1. Virginia Ruano Pascual, Spain, def. Mashona Washington, United States, 6-0, 7-5. Anna Smashnova, Israel, def. Anca Barna, Germany, 6-2, 6-4. Corina Morariu (14), United States, def. Andrea Glass, Germany, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Holly Parkinson, United States, def. Fabiola Zuluaga, Columbia, 6-4, 6-3. Patty Schnyder (13), Switzerland, def. Sonya Jeyasselan, Canada, 6-3, 6-1. Magui Serna, Spain, def. Jennifer Hopkins, United States, 7-5, 6-4. Gala Leon Garcia, Spain, def. Nana Miyagi, Japan, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. Meilin Tu, United States, def. Rite Grande, Italy, 6-1, ret. Paola Suarez, Argentina, def. Henrieta Nagyova, Slovakia, 7-6 (2), 6-4. Elena Likhovtseva (9), Russia, def. Lilia Osterloh, United States, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Anna Kournikova (6), Russia, def. Tara Snyder, United States, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.