Stosur opens with a win

Australian Samantha Stosur recorded a hard-fought three-set victory over Agnes Szavay in their opening group match of the Tournament of Champions in Bali.

Stosur, seeded second, dropped the second set against her Hungarian opponent, but was too strong in the decider to close out the 6-2 3-6 6-1 win in Group B.

Marion Bartoli lived up to her billing as top seed by claiming a straight-sets victory over Magdalena Rybarikova in Group A.

The 25-year-old French player, a tournament winner in Monterrey this year, came through 6-4 6-4 to make a good start at the event in Indonesia.

Third seed Yanina Wickmayer was also a winner as the Belgian saw off veteran wild card entrant Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in Group C.

Fourth seed Sabine Lisicki lost her opening Group D match despite making a great start, going down 1-6 6-3 6-4 to France's Aravane Rezai.