ROME - Local favourite Francesca Schiavone eliminated Canadian Eugenie Bouchard from the Italian Open on Monday. Schiavone defeated the Westmount, Que., native, who was the 17th seed, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round. Meanwhile, Grigor Dimitrov overcame a slow start and sweaty hands to beat 45th-ranked Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Italian Open on Monday. The 14th-ranked Dimitrov, a Bulgarian who at 22 is the youngest player in the top 20, did not take well to the red-and-white towels at the Foro Italico. "Theyre new and they dont absorb any sweat," he said. "Three or four times I was about to lose my racket. I asked several times (for all-white towels) but they told me, We dont have it." Dimitrov will next face big-serving Ivo Karlovic, who beat Spanish qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). In an upset, 13th-seeded Fabio Fognini, the top Italian hope, was handily beaten by 56th-ranked Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-2. Also, 11th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga saved two set points in the second set before eliminating Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine 6-3, 7-6 (5). In womens play, Sam Stosur beat Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-3; 11th-seeded Ana Ivanovic defeated Italian wild-card entry Karin Knapp 6-1, 6-1; 12th-seeded Flavia Pennetta got past Yvonne Meusburger of Austria, 6-2, 6-3; and 16th-seeded American Sloane Stephens rallied past Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Also, 1999 champion Venus Williams cruised past Annika Beck of Germany 6-3, 6-1. The eight top-seeded players have first-round byes. Second-ranked Novak Djokovic is back after withdrawing from last weeks Madrid Open with a right wrist injury and Roger Federer was out on the practice courts after also taking last week off to welcome the birth of his second set of twins. Top-ranked and defending champion Serena Williams, however, wouldnt commit to playing as she waits to see how her injured left thigh feels. "Im taking it a day at a time. Well see as the week goes on. I have the rest of the day off and Ill see how I feel tomorrow," Serena said. "I hit some balls today a little bit so Im going to see later tonight how it feels." Serena withdrew before her quarterfinal match in Madrid, where she had her thigh heavily bandaged and said the injury occurred during a first-round victory over Belinda Bencic. One of the only top players not in Rome was Kei Nishikori of Japan, who retired midway through Sundays Madrid final against Rafael Nadal citing a lower back and hip injury. Rome is the last key clay-court warmup before the French Open starts in two weeks. Sadio Mane Jersey .J. -- Kevin Gilbride retired Thursday as offensive co-ordinator for the New York Giants. Caoimhin Kelleher Jersey . The move is retroactive to Aug. 1. Hosmer was originally hit on the hand in the first inning of a July 20 loss to Boston. He has played most of the time since, but missed a few contests due to the injury, then departed Thursdays win over the Twins and had tests that revealed the fracture. http://www.footballliverpoolstore.com/Women-Curtis-Jones-Liverpool-Jersey/ . The Montreal Alouettes announced Tuesday that they have acquired the return specialist from Calgary, as well as the Stampeders fifth-round draft pick in the 2014 CFL Canadian Draft. Mohamed Salah Liverpool Jersey . -- Wes Welker is unlikely to suit up for Denvers game Thursday against San Diego after leaving Sundays win over Tennessee with his second concussion in four games. Trent Alexander-Arnold Jersey . You can, too, Clay Buchholz, if we ignore the sixth inning of Game 2. Doug Fister and Jake Peavy, youre up next in Game 4 and theres a lot to live up to.Rob Green says he is counting down the days until he leaves QPR having been frozen out over a contract clause. The 36-year-old England keeper will trigger an extension of his current two-year deal if he plays 30 Championship matches and has been told he will not play again this season.Several clubs were interested in signing him in the winter transfer window, including Crystal Palace, but he was unable to secure a move away and has not played since New Years Day. Green told the Daily Mail: [New manager] Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink spoke to me soon after he arrived and said; look, its nothing personal, but because of budgets and things youre not going to make the 30 games.I played one more game on New Years Day then missed a couple through illness, and by then Alex Smithies was fit and available. I guess they figured they might as well make the change then.Im not massively angry.dddddddddddd Im not going into training wanting to kill people. After 20 years in professional football you have seen it all, so it never really surprises you.But its the first time in my life Im sat around on a Saturday afternoon not doing anything. I didnt go into football to earn money. It was because I liked playing football. It took me six weeks to get my head around it.I am counting the days. Its like a sponsored keep fit until the summer so I can hit the ground running when I hopefully do get another club.I can apply a bit of perspective. We are very fortunate to do this job. But Im desperate to play because this is hurting me. Also See: QPR video QPR fixtures QPR stats Bet ￡5 Get ￡20 Free ' ' '