Petrova advances on tough win WTA event in Germany

STUTTGART, Germany, April 23 (UPI) -- Eighth-seeded Nadia Petrova toughed out a first-round win Tuesday during play at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Germany.

Petrova, 11th in the world rankings, got by world No. 150 Dinah Pfizenmaier 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. Petrova managed the only break of the second set, saving the two break points she faced. She ended up winning 71 percent of the points on serve.

Qualifier Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 103rd in the rankings, improved to 3-0 in her career against world No. 29 Elena Vesnina with a 6-0, 6-4 romp. Lucic-Baroni allowed Vesnina just 22 points in the first set and won 56 percent of the points overall in the second.

Ana Ivanovic stopped Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-2 and Sabine Lisicki took out Nastassja Burnett 6-3, 6-4 in other first-round matches Tuesday.