Bartoli routs Safina 6-0, 6-1 in first round of Hobart

HOBART, Australia (AP)—Former No. 1 Dinara Safina was beaten 6-0, 6-1 by Marion Bartoli of France at the Hobart International on Monday, her second consecutive first-round loss at a warmup tournament for the Australian Open.

The Russian, who is trying to recover her form after a serious back injury, was defeated by Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium in three sets at the Auckland tournament last week.

“She (Safina) was a very tough opponent tonight—if you look at the rallies we played I think it was a really great match,” Bartoli said.

“Some days we are really tight and the result goes my way. The score could have much been much tougher.”

Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States advanced to the second round when Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia retired with a hip injury at the start of the second set after the American won the first set 6-2.

The Australian Open in Melbourne begins Jan. 17.