BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) Top-seeded Francesca Schiavone was upset 7-5, 6-4 by Miskai Dothe of Japan in the first round of the grass-court Aegon Classic on Wednesday.
The Italian said she's still adjusting to grass after the clay-court season and hopes to improve before Wimbledon and the London Olympics at the All England Club.
``Of course it is upsetting, but it is hard for me, it takes time to adapt to a grass-court rhythm,'' Schiavone said.
Schiavone joined several seeded players exiting the Birmingham tournament.
The sixth-seeded Mona Barthel of Germany fell to Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 6-2 and the seventh-seeded Christina McHale of the United States lost 6-1, 1-6, 7-5 to Elena Vesnina of Russia.
Jelena Jankovic staved off a bee and two set points in a 6-1, 7-6 (3) win over British wild-card Melanie South.