BEIJING, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Seeded Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci each recorded a first-round victory Saturday to help kick off the China Open in Beijing.
Errani, seeded fifth, disposed of Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, while No. 10 Vinci advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
Also posting Day 1 victories were 11th-seeded American Sloane Stephens, who dispatched Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4, 6-4, and No. 12 Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, who got past Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.
No. 16 Simona Halep of Romania fell in a minor upset to Urszula Radwanska of Poland 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2).
Varvara Lepchenko of Uzbekistan, Italy's Francesca Schiavone and Monica Niculescu of Romania advanced with first-round wins Saturday.
