Putintseva among WTA winners in Dubai

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Yulia Putintseva took a third-set tiebreaker Monday in claiming a first-round win at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Putintseva edged Laura Robson 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6) in nearly 2 1/2 hours. After winning the first set, Putintseva almost let the match slip away. Robson dropped just four points on serve in taking the second set and rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the third. But Putintseva was able to finish off her second match point chance.

She earned a second-round match against world No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska, the tournament defending champion, along with the win.

Hsieh Su-Wei had the easiest time of Monday's matches, defeating Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 6-3 in 63 minutes. Hsieh won nearly two-thirds of the points on serve and piled up five breaks.

Wild-card entrant Marion Bartoli topped Klara Zakopalova 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 behind eight breaks. Ana Ivanovic got by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) and Sorana Cirstea rallied for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 win over Sloane Stephens in the other matches Monday.