Rezai sends Safina packing

France's Aravane Rezai rallied to oust Russian World No 1 Dinara Safina 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 last night to reach the third round of the two million-dollar WTA hardcourt tournament here.

The upset sends Rezai into a match-up against Russia's Alisa Kleybanova in the US Open tune-up event.

Safina, who made 17 double faults, had reached last Sunday's WTA final in Cincinnati before losing to Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 6-2.

But she joined the seeded scrap heap in Canada that also includes No 3 Venus Williams, bounced on Tuesday by Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko, thanks to her service struggles, for which Safina blamed a number of issues.

"Ball toss was a disaster," moaned the Russian. "I don't move my legs. I'm jumping backwards instead of jumping forward. I'm kicking it too much instead of hitting it more. I drop my head. I don't hold the left arm.

"I know this all, and I'm still so stupid that I'm continuing to do it."

Safina, 23, surrendered her serve three times in the final set, slamming her racket to the ground after the last point of her first opening-match defeat since February.

"It's my brain. I know exactly what I have to do, but if I'm not using my brain, I'm not doing the things my coach is telling me," Safina said.

Rezai, ranked 39th, was sympathetic to Safina's struggles. "I'm very sorry for her because I don't like a player who's not confident," Rezai said. "I prefer to beat a player in good shape. I'm a player that feels when I lose, it's the worst moment in my life."

Sharapova through
In another third round match, Russian seventh seed Vera Zvonareva advanced past Italian qualifier Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-3 and will face compatriot Maria Sharapova in the third round. Sharapova ousted Germany's Sybille Bammer, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).