London, June 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia's Ekaterina Makarova inflicted a straight sets defeat on World No.4 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the first round of the AEGON International tennis tournament in Eastbourne Tuesday.

Six double faults from second seed Kvitova simplified the task for World No. 48 Makarova, who won 7-5, 6-4.

Makarova's next opponent will be either young British Laura Robson or 49th ranked

Maria Martina Sanchez of Spain who are to play later Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Klara Zakopalova beat Jie Zheng of China in a tight match 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Zakopalova will definitely face a fellow Czech in the second round, either ninth seed Petra Cetkovska or Andrea Hlavackova.

Eastbourne serves as the final major women's warm-up event for Wimbledon, which gets underway Monday.The tournament has prize money of $637,000.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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