Sharapova takes Auckland first-round match

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Maria Sharapova and No. 3-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova claimed straight-set victories Monday at the ASB Classic tennis tournament in New Zealand.

Sharapova breezed by Alberta Brianti 6-2, 6-3 in first-round play by winning 59 percent of the points despite seven double faults. Sharapova saved four of the six break points she faced and took 70 percent of the points when she got her first serve in.

Kuznetsova ousted local wild-card entrant Sacha Jones 6-4, 6-2 behind five service breaks. Jones hurt herself with 10 double faults and Kuznetsova was able to win more points (32-28) off Jones's serve than the 20-year-old from Auckland.

Kateryna Bondarenko defeated sixth-seeded Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-4, 6-3 with a pair of service breaks in each set.

Also Monday, Renata Voracova wore down and defeated Lourdes Dominguez Lino 4-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-0; Anne Keothavong beat Edina Gallovits 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-0; and Peng Shuai topped Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-3.