Schnyder survives tough start to Cincinnati defence

NEW YORK, July 18 (Reuters) Top seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland opened the defence of her Cincinnati Open crown with a shaky 5-7 6-2 7-6 comeback win over American Lilia Osterloh.

The Swiss trailed 4-1 in the third set and faced a match point before rallying to claim victory in the tie-break 7-1.

Osterloh opened her US hard court season in blistering style by breaking the world number eight on her opening two serves on her way to taking the first set.

But Schnyder, who has not won a title since her victory in Cincinnati a year ago, dominated the 108th-ranked American in the second to level the contest.

In other first-round action, fourth seed Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia was handed a walkover when Hungary's Melinda Czink was forced out with a shoulder strain.

Finland's Emma Laine breezed past Austria's Sybille Bammer 6-3 6-1 while Amy Frazier prevailed in an all-American showdown over wildcard Jessica Kirkland 6-3 6-4.

Former world number one Serena Williams makes her long awaited return on Tuesday following a lengthy injury layoff.

Sidelined since the Australian Open with an injured left knee, the seven-time Grand Slam winner will face a stern test in her first-round match when she takes on second seeded Russian and 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina.

REUTERS PM HS1005