Tuesday 8 July 2014 19:29, UK
Home hope Monica Niculescu dumped Klara Koukalova out of the inaugural BRD Bucharest Open after beating the third seed 6-3 6-0.
With home heroine Simona Halep not playing until Wednesday, hopes were on her fellow Romanians.
World No 68 Niculescu took just over an hour to dispatch her regular doubles partner, setting up a meeting with Bulgarian qualifier Elitsa Kostova who secured her first tour-level win with a 3-6 6-4 7-5 victory over France's Alize Lim.
Niculescu's victory will also help ease the pain and embarrassment she felt when Koukalova accidentally drove a 100mph serve into the back of her head during a doubles match at Wimbledon.
There was more reason for the home crowd to cheer when wild-card entrant Cristina Dinu saw off Nadiya Kichenok of Ukraine 6-0 6-3.
Dinu is preparing to face Kristina Kucova after the Slovakian's 6-3 6-3 victory over sixth seed and compatriot Anna Schmiedlova.
However, wild card Raluca Olaru fell 6-1 6-3 to fourth seed Karin Knapp, while Alexandra Cadantu was beaten 6-3 6-2 by seventh seed Petra Cetkovska.
Another seed fell at the first hurdle as Annika Beck, given the fifth ranking for the tournament was defeated 4-6 6-2 7-6 (7-5) by Lara Arruabarrena.
Eighth seed Polona Hercog made it through with the Slovenian running out a 6-4 6-3 winner against Anna Tatishvili.
If Halep beats Indy De Vroome in round one, she will play Aleksandra Krunic, who saw off Alexandra Panova 4-6 6-3 6-1.
