Groth, rain win at Hobart tournament

HOBART, Australia, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Sixth-seeded Jarmila Groth won in straight sets but the rest of Tuesday's schedule at the Hobart International tennis tournament in Australia was rained out.

Organizers had planned for five second-round matches for the outdoor court at the Domain Tennis Center but rainstorms forced the postponement of nearly the entire schedule.

Forecasters are calling for rain in the area the rest of the week.

Groth defeated Tamira Paszek 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the only completed match. Groth won despite having three service breaks and nine double faults. Still, she had a pair of breaks in each set in claiming the first quarterfinal spot.

Olga Govortsova had a 2-1 lead over Peng Shuai in the first set when play was stopped in their match.

Afternoon matches involving fourth-seeded Roberta Vinci and No. 8-seeed Angelique Kerber were among those postponed.