AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Former champion Anne Kremer of Luxembourg disappointed the home crowd Monday when she dispatched Pavlina Nola, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round of the ASB Bank Classic.
Seeded second, Kremer is looking to recapture her form of two years ago when she won this tournament and reached a career-high ranking of No. 27.
The loss of the Bulgarian-born Nola leaves just one New Zealand player remaining in the main draw. Shelley Stephens, another wild card, will face Barbara Schwartz of Austria on Tuesday.
No. 7 Amy Frazier of the United States, a quarterfinalist here a year ago, rallied past Martina Sucha of Slovakia, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. Frazier also reached the quarterfinals at the Paris Indoor, Family Circle Cup, and the estyle.com Classic last season.
Maja Matevzic of Slovakia rallied past Adriana Serra-Zanetti of Italy, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; Israel's Anna Smashnova topped Australian Rachel McQuillan, 6-4, 6-1; Anabel Medina-Garrigues of Spain routed Miho Saeki of Japan, 6-0, 6-1; and Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi rolled past Slovakian Janette Husarova, 6-1, 6-1.
