Schnyder secures second round spot in Antwerp

ANTWERP, Belgium, Feb 12 (Reuters) Fifth seed Patty Schnyder dumped home favourite Kirsten Flipkens out of the Diamond Games today with a 6-4 6-1 first round victory.

The Swiss world number 13 made easy work of her Belgian opponent, ranked nearly 100 places below her, racing through to a second round meeting with France's Tatiana Golovin or Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia.

Number six seed Dinara Safina of Russia beat compatriot Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-1, while fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze overcame 2006 quarter-finalist Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-4 6-2.

Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek defeated German Martina Muller 6-3 6-2 in today's other match.

Eight of the world's top 15 players are in action this week in Belgium with a prize fund of over 500,000 euros (648,100 dollar) on offer.

Twice defending champion and top seed Amelie Mauresmo is looking to earn the diamond studded racquet worth one million euros which is awarded to a player who wins three titles in Antwerp within five years.

The French world number three claimed the title in 2005 against and 2006.

Belgian favourite and second seed Kim Clijsters returns to action on Wednesday after missing last week's Paris Open through injury. It will be Clijsters's last appearance on home soil following her decision to retire at the end of the season.

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