Other seeds advancing were No. 11 Shahar Peer of Israel, who was leading 6-0, 2-0 when Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska retired because of a right wrist injury, and 10th-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia, who beat Italy's Maria Elena Camerin 6-1, 6-2.

Also, Ai Sugiyama defeated Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 5-7, 7-5; Meghann Shaughnessy eliminated Emilie Loit 6-3, 6-2; and Russian qualifier Galina Voskoboeva beat wild card Alberta Brianti 6-2, 6-3.

Ninth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova rallied to beat French qualifier Aravane Rezai 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

"In the first set I think I was tight, but that's normal in the first round," said Hantuchova, who has never advanced past the third round in six previous appearances in Rome.

The top eight seeded players have byes in the first round.

Two-time Rome champion Amelie Mauresmo is seeded first because top-ranked Justine Henin did not enter the event. Maria Sharapova, ranked No. 2, withdrew because of a right shoulder injury. Defending champion Martina Hingis pulled out with hip and back injuries.

The 42nd-ranked Kirilenko recovered from an early break in the final set and staved off three match points the first time Sugiyama served for the match at 5-4. But the more experienced Sugiyama — who made only six unforced errors — broke back and converted her first match point the next time she served.

"I just had to hang in and be patient, Sugiyama said. "Luckily I got through."