Tennis: Seeded wild card off to winning start

Yanina Wickmayer in action against Julia Goerges. Photo / Getty Images

Third-seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer got her tennis year off to a winning start today by downing German Julia Goerges in straight sets in the ASB Classic in Auckland.

Wickmayer, given a wildcard for the WTA Tour season-opener after a ban relating to drug-testing procedure was lifted last month, beat her unseeded opponent 6-3 7-5.

After a one-hour delay to the start of the tournament because of wet weather, the world No 16 was steadier in the windy conditions, producing fewer unforced errors and serving with greater accuracy.

She raced through the opening set, but world No 77 Goerges fought back in the second to make her opponent work for the victory.

Wickmayer will next face the winner of the match between Romanian Ioana Raluca Olaru and a qualifier.

New Zealand's Marina Erakovic will be on centre court on Monday afternoon with doubles partner Polona Hercog against world number ones Cara Black and Liezel Huber.

- NZPA