ROME (Reuters) - Russian world number two Maria Sharapova will start her Italian Open campaign against Dominika Cibulkova after the Slovak beat Argentine Gisela Dulko 7-6 6-4 in the first round on Tuesday.

Top seed Ana Ivanovic, who has a bye into the second round along with Sharapova and the other highest-ranked players, will face Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, a 6-4 6-2 winner over fellow qualifier Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic.

Venus Williams, the seventh seed, is scheduled to make her return from over a month out with an unspecified medical problem against Australia's Samantha Stosur in the second round later on Tuesday, although rain delays were disrupting the schedule.

Fifth seed Serena Williams, who like her sister Venus is a former Italian Open champion, faces Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko in Tuesday's late match.