American duo Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys up and running

Shahida Jacobs

Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys advanced at the Italian Open on Monday, but Coco Vandeweghe was blown away by Anett Kontaveit.

US Open champion and ninth seed Stephens came from a set down to beat Barbora Strycova, winning 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-1 to set up a second-round match against Kaia Kanepi after the Estonian qualifier beat Camilla Rosatello 6-1, 6-2.

Keys had an easier afternoon as she beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-1.

Pavlyuchenkova actually had the early advantage as she broke in the third game, but she couldn’t back it up on her own serve as Keys broke back immediately and again in game 10.

The second set, though, was a formality with two breaks of serve for the 13th seed.

The third American Vandeweghe never got going against Kontaveit as she won only two games as the Estonian secured a 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Meanwhile, former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova battled to a 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 win over Italian Francesca Schiavone.

It was a mixed day for the Australians as Sam Stosur was beaten 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-2 by Alison Van Uytvanck, but Daria Gavrilova beat Natalia Vikhlyantseva 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

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