Australian Anastasia Rodionova and defending champion Alberta Brianti of Italy were among the first day casualties at the WTA event in Morocco.

Sixth-seeded Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa accounted for Rodionova 6-4 6-4 and Alexandra Cadantu of Romania knocked out Brianti 5-7 7-5 6-1.

Brianti, who clinched her first WTA title at last year’s edition, was broken 11 times and won only 48 per cent of points on first serve.

Top-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain beat Nina Bratchikova of Russia 6-2 6-4.

The 2009 champion, who has won 10 of her 11 career titles on clay, broke Bratchikova three times in each set.