Defending Rome champion Dinara Safina, playing her second event since returning from back injury, falls 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-1 to Alexandra Dulgheru on a rain-dampened court.
"The only good thing out of this match is that my back was fine," said Safina. "Overall I think the game, particularly in the third set, was quite difficult and fast.
"I don't know if it was over-hitting or over-waiting. I think I was waiting too much for the ball and I was playing down and I had to move better with my feet."