Pironkova, Safarova, Obziler, Groenefeld win in first round

Updated: July 7, 2008, 6:08 PM ET

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Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Third-seeded Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria beat Teodora Mircic of Serbia 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the Gaz de France Budapest Grand Prix on Monday.

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The 44th-ranked Pironkova jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second set.

Fifth-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic also advanced, beating Kyra Nagy of Hungary 6-2, 6-2.

Safarova broke Nagy in the first game and led 4-1 before being broken back.

"I cannot say it was too hard," Safarova said.

Also, Tzipora Obziler of Israel beat Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania, 6-3, 6-2 and Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany defeated Palma Kiraly of Hungary 6-0, 6-4.

The two top seeded players, Agnes Szavay of Hungary and Alize Cornet of France, have byes in the first round.