SYDNEY (AP)—French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova beat fellow Russian Alisa Kleybanova 6-2, 6-7 (3), 7-5 on Sunday in the first round of the Sydney International.
The third-seeded Kuznetsova, also the 2004 U.S. Open winner, trailed 2-0 in the deciding set before breaking back to take control.
Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 victory over France's Virginie Razzano, and defending champion Elena Dementieva, who beat Kuznetsova last year in the Sydney final, topped Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 7-5.
Top-seeded Serena Williams, who had a first-round bye, is scheduled to play her first singles match Tuesday. Williams was drawn for a potential second-round match against Justine Henin, but Henin injured her left leg Saturday in her Brisbane International final loss to Kim Clijsters and pulled out of the Sydney event.