Li wins first-round match in Sydney

SYDNEY, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Fourth-seeded Li Na opened defense of her title in the Apia International tennis tournament with a straight-set win Monday in Sydney.

Li rolled past Ekaterina Makarova 6-0, 6-3 by taking more than 60 percent of the points in the match. She took control early, winning 68 percent of the points in the first-set shutout. Li broke Makarova's serve five times.

No. 3-seeded Victoria Azarenka also dropped just three games in her first-round victory, ousting Stefanie Voegele 6-2, 6-1. She had five service breaks out of 18 break opportunities and won 55 percent of the points when receiving Voegele's serve.

Fifth-seeded Samantha Stosur, a local favorite, was eliminated Monday, losing 6-2, 6-4 to Francesca Schiavone. Schiavone had five breaks over Stosur's nine serving games. Also falling was Vera Zvonareva, the No. 6 seed. Svetlana Kuznetsova who is 8-4 lifetime versus her higher-ranked Russian countrywoman, took a clear 6-1, 6-2 decision in the match.

No. 7-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska routed her sister Urszula Radwanska 6-1, 6-1 in 55 minutes while eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Polona Hercog.

Unseeded winners in Monday's first-round action were Andrea Petkovic, Jelena Jankovic, Chanelle Scheepers, Daniela Hantuchova and Alexandra Dulgheru.