ROME -- Anna Kournikova and Mary Pierce, two former Top 10 players making their way back from injuries, won first-round matches Monday at the Italian Open.

Pierce, a two-time Grand Slam tournament champion, defeated Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, while Kournikova ousted Marta Marrero 6-3, 6-3.

Pierce, who lives in the United States and plays for France, used a big forehand and strong serve to overcome otherwise erratic play.

Pierce's ranking dropped to 172 due to a series of injuries since winning the French Open in 2000. She was entered in this French Open tuneup under the Women's Tennis Association's protected ranking rule, which helps players enter tournaments when they return from injury.

"I'm working very hard to move up in the rankings," said Pierce, who was No. 3 in the world less than two years ago. "I made a lot of unforced errors, but I'm still improving. But I feel like certain parts of my game are coming back."

The 27-year-old Pierce won the Italian Open in 1997.

Kournikova, still regaining her form from a foot injury that kept her out for much of last year, won five straight games to erase a 3-1 first-set deficit against the 19-year-old Spaniard.

In the second set, the 20-year-old Russian star broke Marrero's serve early and held on for the victory.

"Before I got injured, I was No. 8 in the world," said Kournikova, whose ranking has plummeted to No. 68. "There are certain things I still need to work on.

"But mainly it's playing a lot of matches. That's how I get confident, playing like I did today," she said.

On Tuesday night, Kournikova plays Venus Williams, ranked No. 1 in the world.

"That will give me a good sense of where I am and what I have to work on," Kournikova said. "And it's her first match here, so you never know."

The top eight seeds in the event, including sisters Venus and Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati and defending champion Jelena Dokic, had first-round byes. Martina Hingis, Monica Seles and Amanda Coetzer pulled out because of injury.

The Williams sisters also entered the doubles draw, which also features 45-year-old Martina Navratilova, who will play with Natalia Zvereva.

Also Monday, 10th-seeded Meghann Shaughnessy lost 6-3, 6-3 to Asa Svensson, and Jennifer Hopkins was beaten 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 by Tatiana Panova.

In other first-round matches, Magdalena Maleeva defeated Martina Sucha 6-0, 7-6 (4); Magui Serna edged Maria Elena Camerin 6-3, 6-4; and Virginia Ruano Pascual beat Angeles Montolio 7-6 (4), 6-3.