Australian Open champion Li Na avoided a repeat of her shock first round exit at the Madrid Open last year with a 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) win over Belgian Kirsten Flipkens on Monday.
The world number two raced through the opening set, but was forced to save two set points in the second before closing out the match in a tie-break.
"I knew it would never be an easy match and even when I won the first set, she was really fighting a lot in the second," said the Chinese star.
Next up for Li is a meeting with compatriot Jie Zheng in round two.
"We are from the same country, we know each other well so I'm sure it will be tough," she added.
On the men's side Japan's Kei Nishikori kept his recent fine form going - after winning the Barcelona Open last week - with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Croatian Ivan Dodig.
Nishikori will face Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round.
Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova became the first seed to fall on Monday as she was comprehensively beaten 6-3, 6-0 by Australia's Sam Stosur.
Share
