LINZ, Austria — Andreea Mitu of Romania upset the seventh-ranked Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round of the Generali Ladies on Tuesday.
French Open finalist Safarova, who was the top-seeded player at the Austrian indoor event, went 3-0 down in the opening set after winning just four of the first 16 points. She dropped her serve again at 3-3 in the second set.
"I didn't expect it, but I believed I could make a good match," said the 95th-ranked Mitu, who will next play Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany. "It's good to have such a tough match, as it makes you stronger for the rest of the tournament.