Mauresmo whitewashes Croatian qualifier

LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) French top seed Amelie Mauresmo marched through to the Wimbledon second round with a 6-0 6-0 whitewash of Croatian qualifier Ivana Abramovic today.

Mauresmo had lost her last two matches, at the French Open and at Eastbourne, but was completely untested by Abramovic on court two.

The Croatian, ranked 192, was playing her first match in the main draw of a grand slam and her lack of experience showed in a total mismatch that lasted only 38 minutes.

Mauresmo, a semi-finalist on her last three Wimbledon appearances, will face a stiffer task in the second round against either in-form Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek, who won the Den Bosch title last Saturday, or Australia's Samantha Stosur.

REUTERS DH HT1807