French eighth-seed Marion Bartoli was the first player into the third round at the German Open after she beat Lucie Safarova from the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

It had been a black Monday for French hopes in Berlin after former world number one Amelie Mauresmo withdrew with a rib injury brought on by a coughing attack.

And Tatiana Golovin, ranked 21st in the world, was beaten in the first round in only her second tournament back after a ten-week break which included surgery to remove a cyst which had given her back pain.

Bartoli, ranked 11th in the world, beat Safarova 6-0, 6-3 and is the last Frenchwoman left in the competition.

She is likely to face tenth seeded Hungarian Agnes Szavay for a place in the quarterfinals.

Mauresmo, who won the German Open in 2001 and 2004, pulled out of the tournament late on Monday night because of pain in her intercostal muscles.

"The pain started because of strong coughing fits and I have not been able to fix the injury since the EDF-Cup," said the 28-year-old, who is now 19th in the world, on her website.

"Since my arrival in Berlin, I cannot compete properly, because of the pain.

"I need to be careful and it is better to withdraw from the tournament rather than to make the wound worse.

"I am very disappointed, but I hope to be able to play in Rome next week."

AFP