Tennis: First seed falls at ASB Classic

Roberta Vinci of Italy plays a shot in her match against Elena Vesnina of Russia. Photo / Getty Images

The ASB Classic tennis tournament lost its first seeded player today when Roberta Vinci was beaten by Russian Elena Vesnina 6-3 6-4.

The sixth seeded Italian struggled to find her rhythm in the match and Vesnina took advantage to win in straight sets.

Vesnina, ranked 57 in the world, has some form in Auckland having made it through to the 2009 final before being beaten by fellow Russian Elena Dementieva.

Vesnina will meet fourth seed Flavia Pennetta in the quarter-finals, after the Italian navigated past Briton Elena Baltacha 6-4 6-2 in her second-round match.