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Lisicki opens 2014 WTA season with straight-set win

Sabine Lisicki, shown during last year's final at Wimbledon, was a straight-set winner Sunday at the Brisbane International in Australia. It was the first day of the 2014 WTA tournament calendar. UPI/Hugo Philpott
Sabine Lisicki, shown during last year's final at Wimbledon, was a straight-set winner Sunday at the Brisbane International in Australia. It was the first day of the 2014 WTA tournament calendar. UPI/Hugo Philpott | License Photo

BRISBANE, Australia, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Seventh-seeded Sabine Lisicki posted a straight-set win as the 2014 WTA season kicked off Sunday at the Brisbane International.

Lisicki, a finalist last summer at Wimbledon, defeated Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-4 behind a seven-ace attack. She won 69 percent of the points on serve and saved all three break points she faced.

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Rybarikova only had to deal with four break chances overall but Lisicki cashed in one in each set to advance.

Andrea Petkovic completed Sunday's schedule with a 6-4, 7-5 decision over Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Petkovic had a pair of breaks in each set and moves into a second-round match against defending champion and world No. 1 Serena Williams.

U.S. players were 0-3 Sunday. In addition to the loss by Mattek-Sands, Elina Svitolina stopped Varvara Lepchenko 6-3, 6-3 by piling up six breaks and Stefanie Voegele dropped her serve just once in getting past Madison Keys 6-4, 6-3.

Also Sunday, Kimiko Date-Krumm used two breaks in each set in beating Olivia Rogowska 6-3, 7-5.

No. 6-seeded Caroline Wozniacki withdrew from the tournament with a right shoulder injury but said she expected to play in next week's event in Sydney, which is the final tune-up before the Australian Open.

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