TOYKO, Japan, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Ai Sugiyama, Japan's top player, beat countrywoman Shinobu Asagoe in one of just two singles matches completed Tuesday at the Princess Cup before officials were forced to suspend play due to rain.
Sugiyama, who is seeded fifth, defeated Asagoe, 6-4, 6-1 to win for the third straight time in four head-to-head meetings. She has reached the quarterfinals or better in five of 23 tournaments this year. Last week in Shanghai, China, Sugiyama lost in the semifinals to Anna Kournikova.
Russian Elena Likhovtseva downed Conchita Martinez of Spain, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in the only other singles match completed. It was Likhovtseva's first triumph over Martinez in seven career meetings.
Likhovtseva will play No. 8 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in the second round.
The top four seeded players received byes at this Tier II tournament.
Serena Williams is the top seed and appears in her first tournament since winning the U.S. Open on Sept. 7. She also won the Grand Slams at the French Open and Wimbledon and will compete for her seventh title of the year which will equal that of her sister Venus Williams.
Serena Williams was in action Tuesday, entering the doubles draw with veteran Martina Navratilova as a wild card and the duo posted a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Martinez and Nicole Pratt.
This marks the first time Serena is playing doubles on the tour without Venus, with whom she has won nine titles including Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal.
