By Chris Davies
January 15 2004

Third-seeded Silvia Farina Elia of Italy beat Lubomira Kurhajcova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-2 while fourth-seeded Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand defeated Marie-Gayane Mikaelian of Switzerland 6-1, 6-3.

Marlene Weingartner who last year upset then defending Australian Open champion Jennifer Capriaiti overcame rising Israeli star Tzipora Obziler in two tough sets 6-4, 7-5.

The were wins for Emilie Loit over one time top 20 and French Open semi-finalist Clarisa Fernandez, Karolina Sprem and Emmanuelle Gagliari.

First Round

(3) Silvia Farina Elia (Ita) bt Lubomira Kurhajcova (Svk)
6-2, 6-2

(7) Marlene Weingartner (Ger) bt Tzipora Obziler (Isr)
6-4, 7-5

Mara Santangelo (Ita) bt Sofia Arvidsson (Swe)
6-1, 3-6, 6-1

(6) Emilie Loit (Fra) bt Clarisa Fernandez (Arg) 6-4, 6-0


Karolina Sprem (Cro) bt (5) Petra Mandula (Hun)
6-4, 6-0

Sandra Kleinova (Cze) bt Tatiana Panova (Rus)
6-4, 6-3

(4) Tamarine Tanasugarn (Tha) bt Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian (Swi)
6-1, 6-3

Emmanuelle Gagliardi (Swi) bt Stephanie Cohen Aloro (Fra)
6-3, 6-4

(9) Maria Antonia Sanchez-Lorenzo (Spa) bt Evie Dominikovic (Aus)
6-7 (6-8,) 6-4, 6-0