Myskina in top ten, wins

Anastasia Myskina celebrated her first match as a member of the world's top 10 on Tuesday by beating fellow Russian Dinara Safina 6-4 6-3 to reach the second round of the Dubai Open.

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Strong winds made it difficult for either player to find any consistency, but it was Safina -- the 16-year old sister of men's tennis powerhouse Marat Safin -- who held the early advantage.

She broke serve in the first game, but allowed Myskina to level at 3-3. And although Safina broke again with a forehand volley, Myskina responded by snatching the next three games and the set.

Safina also led early in the second set, breaking for 2-0, but seven double-faults and an inability to maintain an aggressive game once more swung the match in Myskina's favour.

"The wind was strong and it was tough conditions," said Myskina, who last week defeated Safina in the Doha quarter-finals before going on to claim the title.

"And Dinara played much better than she did last week. She had played in qualifying here and was more ready to play me than she was in Doha.

"She didn't make a lot of unforced errors like last week, and she fought more and really wanted to win today."

Having reached the top 10, and gone on a Dubai shopping spree for gold and diamonds to celebrate, the Russian has set herself a modest target for the rest of the year.

"I think I'm looking to win the first round at the French Open, because I've been losing there every year first round.

"It's hard for me to play there. I don't know why, so if I can win a match there I'll be really happy," she said.

In other action, Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn struggled past Angelique Widjaja of Indonesia, winning 5-7 7-5 6-4, Iroda Tulyaganova from Uzbekistan was also stretched before edging Spain's Gala Leon Garcia 6-3 4-6 7-6 and Hungarian qualifier Petra Mandula swept aside Cara Black of Zimbabwe 6-0 7-5.