Kirilenko beats No. 18 Petrova in first round of Italian Open

Maria Kirilenko rallied to beat 18th-seeded Nadia Petrova 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 Wednesday in the first round of the Italian Open

The match began on Tuesday but was stopped due to rain with Kirilenko ahead 2-1 in the third set.

The 26th-ranked Kirilenko won the first clay-court title of her career at the Estoril Open last month. This event is another clay-court warmup for the French Open, which begins May 25.

In another match that began Tuesday, Ekaterina Makarova upset 13th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Also, Alize Cornet routed Vera Dushevina 6-1, 6-3.

Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic and No. 2 Maria Sharapova were in action later.

Ivanovic faced Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova and Sharapova was up against Dominika Cibulkova in the night match at the Foro Italico.