Li wins in straight sets in Germany

STUTTGART, Germany, April 18 (UPI) -- Sixth-seeded Li Na posted a straight set win Monday over Anastasija Sevastova in opening-day play of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Germany.

Li, who earlier in the day moved up to No. 6 in the world rankings, defeated Sevastova 6-2, 6-3. That decision snapped a five-match losing streak that began in the finals of the Australian Open after Li opened the year by winning her first 11 matches.

Li won the first three games of Monday's match and took the second despite losing her serve twice in the set.

Monday's other main draw matches saw eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli top Tsvetana Pironkova 6-4, 6-1 and wild-card entrant Kristina Barrois stop Lucie Safarova 6-1, 6-4.

Bartoli had a pair of service breaks in the first set and piled up four in the second in improving to 4-1 lifetime against Pironkova. She allowed Pironkova just four points in four second-set service games.

Barrois landed just 48 percent of her first serves but didn't lose a game on serve against Safarova. Each player took 29 points in the second set but Barrois got the only break and advanced.

The $721,000 clay-court tournament features seven of the eight top ranked players in the world. Only No. 2-ranked Kim Clijsters, who has an injured ankle, is missing the event.