Brisbane International: Top seeds surge at Brisbane

Victoria Azarenka reacts after winning a point against Elena Vesnina in their women’s singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament on Monday. Azarenka won 6-2, 6-0. — AFP

Australian Sam Stosur narrowly avoided another disappointment on home turf as she battled through a wrist injury and three tough sets to claim an opening victory at the Brisbane International on Monday.

The former U.S. Open champion recovered from 0-3 down in the final set to record a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Slovakian qualifier Jana Cepelova to kick off her always intense Australian summer in positive style.

The 31-year-old has frequently failed to hit the heights on home turf, having never won a tournament or progressed past the fourth round at the Australian Open, and bemoaned on Sunday the unfair emphasis she received for her domestic form.

The world number 27 looked set to give the critics another stick to beat her with before a spirited effort did for the world number 147 and set up a second-round clash with Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro on Tuesday.

“I am really pleased to walk away with a win, especially being down in that third set and then find that ability to come back and play well and win it when you are down, to turn things around,” Stosur said.

Stosur needed treatment for a wrist problem midway through the second set but was not overly concerned about the injury.

Italy’s Roberto Vinci, who ended Serena Williams’ bid for a calendar grand slam at the U.S. Open semifinals last year, also needed three tough sets to make the second round on the Brisbane hard courts.

The 32-year-old prevailed 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 over former world number one Jelena Jankovic, while Germany’s world number 10 Angelique Kerber shook off the rust in a 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Camila Giorgi of Italy.

Russian Maria Sharapova is the tournament draw card and she will kick off her campaign on Tuesday against compatriot Ekaterina Makarova.

On the men’s side, 17-times grand slam champion Roger Federer will play Germany’s Tobias Kamke.

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov had been touted as ‘Baby Fed’ but a disappointing 2015 season quelled those comparisons with the Swiss great.

The Bulgarian started his new campaign in more upbeat fashion by recording a 6-3, 7-6 (10) win over fifth seed Gilles Simon of France.