Mildura, 23 February 2011 | tennis.com.au

Casey Dellacqua’s return to international tennis was cut short today when Commonwealth Games silver medallist Olivia Rogowska defeated her in straight sets, 6-3 6-0, during the first round of the Mildura Grand International.

“I started off well, broke her twice and got 4-0 up but then Casey found her range and we started having longer rallies. I served the first set out for 6-3 and in the second set I loosened up and started playing some really good tennis,” Rogowska said.

“My next goal is to try to get back to the ranking I had before, try to beat my career high of 140 and get back inside the Grand Slam qualifying cut-off. I want to try and compete at Paris and Wimbledon this year and just get things back on track and I really believe things are starting to get back on track so I’m pretty excited,” she added.

In other matches Erika Takao of Japan upset the No. 5 seed Sophie Letcher (Bonogin, Queensland), 6-0 2-6 6-1.

The Victorian No. 2 seed James Lemke of Camberwell also had a comfortable campaign start, defeating wild card Jake Eames (Amaroo, ACT) 6-3 6-2.

James Duckworth (Gordon, NSW) was also too strong for fellow New South Welshman Matthew Barton (Collaroy), walking away with a 6-4 6-4 win.

Second round action will commence tomorrow and 14-year-old Ashleigh Barty (Springfield, Queensland), who knocked out the No. 1 seed Kumiko Iijima (JPN) in her opening match, will play fellow Queenslander Shayna McDowell of Tanawah.

Rogowska, the No. 3 seed, will meet qualifier Daniella Dominikovic (NSW) and the No. 2 seed, Katie O’Brien of Great Britain, will play Yurika Sema (JPN).

The second round of the men’s draw also has some exciting matches scheduled; Australian qualifier Matthew Hicks (Geelong, Vic) will meet the sixth seed Erik Chvojka of Canada. Lemke plays Marious Zelba of India, and Mark Richards (Highfield, Qld) faces Japanese player Hiroki Moriya and No. 1 seed Tsung-Hua Yan (TPE) will meet local Andrew Whittington (Williamstown, Vic).