Vaidisova upset by Golovin in Zurich

ZURICH, Oct 17 (Reuters) Tatiana Golovin of France crushed seventh-seeded Czech Nicole Vaidisova 6-2 6-0 today to reach the second round of the Zurich Open.

Golovin, playing her first match since reaching the Stuttgart final 10 days ago, always held the advantage. After holding a break point for 2-0 and two more to lead 3-1, she eventually broke through by claiming Vaidisova's serve at 3-2 when the Czech put a wild double-handed backhand wide.

Vaidisova, who reached the Moscow semi-finals last week before losing to Nadia Petrova, made a succession of often unforced errors against an aggressive and increasingly confident opponent.

Maria Kirilenko, who has engaged British coach Nigel Sears during the European indoor season in an attempt to reverse a dramatic slump that had seen her win just four matches in her last 11 tournaments, earned a welcome 6-4 7-6 win over Swiss wildcard Emmanuelle Gagliardi.

The young Russian, who was ranked in the top 20 after the French Open but is now outside the top 30, had to recover a double break of serve in the second set.

After trailing 1-4, she won a long sixth game and then broke again at love to level at 4-4. Gagliardi broke for 5-4 but failed to serve out the set and Kirilenko attacked a second serve to give herself two match points at 6-4 in the tiebreak before tying up victory in just under two hours.

Serbian Jelena Jankovic was stretched by Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova, eventually reaching the second round with a 3-6 6-4 6-1 victory.

REUTERS DH VV2156