By Chris Davies
February 25 2003

Seventh-seeded Elena Bovina lost to Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the State Farm Women's Tennis Classic "I'm obviously disappointed to lose in the first round, but I think I just made too many unforced errors," Bovina said.

Bovina shook off a poor first set to break Schiavone in the first game of the second on the way to a 3-1 lead. After Schiavone won twice to tie it, Bovina broke back, taking the game with a tough drop shot.

But the Italian regained her composure and won the last three games when Bovina double-faulted at the end of the eighth and returned a short backhand into the net on match point

Other first round action, sixth-seeded Eleni Daniilidou defeated Vera Zvonareva of Russia 6-2, 6-3. Daniilidou broke Zvonareva three times in each set and needed only 52 minutes and Chanda Rubin beat Jill Craybas in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.

Defending champion Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport and Jelena Dokic, the top four seeded players, all have first-round byes.

8 Dechy bt
Lucic
3-6, 6-1, 6-0

5 Rubin bt
Craybas
6-3, 6-1

Schiavone bt
7 Bovina
6-1, 6-4

6 Daniilidou bt
Zvonareva
6-2, 6-3