Petrova, Pennetta through to Bali tennis second round

Russian Nadia Petrova made the adjustment to searing tropical heat Tuesday, posting a 6-3, 6-1 win over Japan’s Aiko Nakamura to reach the second round of the Bali Open.

“I feel confident now,” said fourth seed Petrova, who won in Cincinnati this year but has slumped to 21 in the WTA rankings from the third spot two years ago.

“I’ve adjusted to conditions. I felt a lot faster on court and was moving well. The first round is always tough — it’s important to make a confident first step.”

Italian third seed Flavia Pennetta — who beat Petrova in the third round of the US Open — had to struggle through a long first set before finally subduing American Vania King 7-6 (9/7), 6-1.

The 19th-ranked Pennetta, who reached the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows, next plays Russia’s Anastasia Rodionova who advanced when Ukraine’s Julia Vakulenko retired from their first round clash, trailing 6-2, 3-0.

Ukrainian Olga Savchuk defeated Russia’s Alla Kudryavtseva 7-5, 6-2. Savchuk next faces top seed and 2007 finalist Daniela Hantuchova, who had a bye in the first round.

Kudryavtseva, who gained notoriety by beating Maria Sharapova in the second round at Wimbledon and then criticising the style icon’s fashion sense, appeared on the informal runway in Bali as part of a tournament promotion.

Two more Italians joined Pennetta in the second round. Tathiana Garbin stopped Melinda Czink 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), and seventh-seeded Sara Errani put out South African Natalie Grandin 6-2, 6-1.