Irina-Camelia Begu dumps Angelique Kerber out in Rome

Ninth-seed Angelique Kerber has been knocked out of the Italian Open at the second-round stage by Irina-Camelia Begu.

Germany's Kerber began slowly as Begu broke to 15 in the opening game, but the match was soon level again as Kerber hit straight back.

The pair traded holds of serve before Kerber was broken twice in the seventh and ninth games to lose the opener 6-3.

Kerber was the first to break in the second set, taking a 2-1 lead, but she failed to consolidate the advantage as Romanian Begu broke back.

The world number 31 broke again to take a 5-3 lead and she served it out comfortably to set up a third-round meeting with Victoria Azarenka.

It is the second time Begu has beaten Kerber this year after knocking the German out in the Australian Open in January.