The world number two Jana Novotna's jinx of never having won a match in the Italian Open continued today when she crashed out of the £600,000 Rome tournament for a fourth time.

The 29-year-old Czech, beaten in the German Open final by Martina Hingis just 72 hours earlier in Hamburg, fell to 74thranked Alexandra Fusai of France 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3. Novotna's losing streak in the clay event began a decade ago when she lost to American Mary Joe Fernandez in the first round. She crashed out again the following year and in her most recent appearance in 1993.

Novotna admitted: "I have problems playing here. I don't like the balls, I don't have control. That's not an excuse, just a fact."

She did, however, looked to have the match in hand holding a 4-2 lead in the second set after winning the opening set.

And Novotna held three match points in the tie-breaker, but lost them all, two on unforced errors.

Top seed Martina Hingis meanwhile got off to a slow start, falling 1-3 behind against 43rd-ranked Fang Li of China before winning the final 11 games to win 6-3, 6-0.

Defending champion Mary Pierce dispatched compatriot Sarah Pitkowski 6-1 6-2 in the second round, while Monica Seles, who won the title in 1990, ousted Italy's Silvia Farina 6-2 6-1. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario beat fellow Spaniard Cristina Valero 63 7-5 and four-time champion Conchita Martinez defeated Italian Flora Perfetti 6-1 4-6 6-3.

Croatia's teenaged eighth seed Iva Majoli got past German number 114 Jana Kandarr 4-6 6-4 6-4. And Venus Williams beat Maria Sanchez Lorenzo of Spain 6-1 6-4.