Kvitova first to reach third round in Pacific Open

TOKYO: Seventh seed Petra Kvitova, surprise Wimbledon champion in 2011, became the first player to reach the third round with a 7-5 6-4 winner over Swiss Belinda Bencic at the Pan Pacific Open on Monday.

"It was my first match after my little break when I went home and so it's always tricky," said the Czech. "I was nervous before the match and I continued feeling that way."

She added: "It wasn't easy to get used to - it was a little windy and we had some rain - but at the end of the match I played a bit better than the beginning so that was a good sign."

Meanwhile, fifth seed Angelique Kerber pulverised Spanish qualifier Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor 6-0 6-1 to book her place in the last 16.

Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, runner-up to Martina Hingis in Tokyo in 2007, flattened Germany's Annika Beck 6-1 6-1 as the Serbian pin-up, who once held the world's top ranking, won her opening match.

Ayumi Morita's 7-6 6-3 upset of Briton Laura Robson and wildcard Misaki Doi's 6-7 6-0 7-5 victory over American Varvara Lepchenko made it a good day for Japan at the 30th edition of the Tokyo tournament.

World number one Serena Williams, who won her 17th grand slam singles title at the U.S. Open earlier this month, was a late pull-out citing fatigue while twice Pan Pacific champion Maria Sharapova withdraw with shoulder pain. (AFP)