By Chris Davies
January 4 2005

Eleni Daniilidou the defending champion at the ASB Classic in New Zealand so her title defence evaporate has she fell unexpectedly to Itay's Mara Santangelo The third seeded Daniilidou has won this tournament on 2 previous occasions and was looking for a third consecutive title but was hampered by a shoulder injury lost the first set 6-2 only to claw her way back in the second 6-1.

Santangelo the 23 year old's determination and focus drove her on to a surprising but well deserved victory claiming the final set 6-1.

Also in action were Jelena Jankovic who overcame her flu to fight off Luxembourg's Claudine Schaul 7-5, 6-2.

Previous first round winners included top seeded American Amy Frazier who cruised past fellow American Laura Granville. Tatiana Panova who had a good end to her season last year after a comeback from injury saw return to form with a straights sets win over Lindsay Lee-Waters.

Full First Round Results

1st rd:
Tatiana Panova (Rus) bt Lindsay Lee-Waters (USA)
6-3, 7-5

(1) Amy Frazier (USA) bt Laura Granville (USA)
6-3, 6-3

Shenay Perry (USA) bt Marta Domachowska (Pol)
7-5, 3-6, 6-3

(5) Marion Bartoli (Fra) bt Abigail Spears (USA)
6-0, 6-1

Martina Sucha (Svk) bt (7) Maria Vento-Kabchi (Ven)
6-4, 6-4

Lina Krasnoroutskaya (Rus) bt Aniko Kapros (Hun)
7-6 (7-5), 6-1

Shahar Peer (Isr) bt Akiko Morigami (Jpn)
6-3, 4-6, 6-3

(2) Jelena Jankovic (Ser) bt Claudine Schaul (Lux)
7-5, 6-2

Lucie Safarova (Cze) bt Yuka Yoshida (Jpn)
6-0, 6-1

Jill Craybas (USA) bt Melien Tu (USA)
6-2, 6-2

Marina Erakovic (Nzl) bt Marie-Eve Pelletier (Can)
4-6, 7-5, 6-3

Katarina Srebotnik (Slo) bt (8) Alina Jidkova (Rus)
6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Mara Santangelo (Ita) bt (3) Eleni Daniilidou (Gre)
6-2, 1-6, 6-1

(4) Shinobu Asagoe (Jpn) bt Tatiana Perebiynis (Ukr)
6-4, 6-1

Janette Husarova (Svk) bt (6) Kristina Brandi (Pue)
6-1, 6-2

Nuria Llagostera Vives (Spa) bt Anne Kremer (Lux)
6-3, 6-3