Osaka, Japan: Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki of Germany outlasted Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 7-5, 7-6 (1) to reach the second round of the Japan Open on Tuesday.
Lisicki struggled with a right wrist injury after making her first Grand Slam singles final, and has yet to win more than two matches in a row.
She hit five aces and took advantage of eight double faults by Scheepers to set up a second-round match against Polona Hercog of Slovenia, who beat Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.
Also, Vania King of the United States ousted fourth-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, and Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm dispatched seventh-seeded Laura Robson of Britain 6-4, 6-4.
Other winners included No. 6-seeded Madison Keys of the United States and No. 9 Kristina Mladenovic of France.
