WUHAN, China (AP) Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia beat former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday in the opening round of the Wuhan Open.
The 85th-ranked Lucic-Baroni saved all four break points and wrapped up the match in just under an hour against her 22nd-ranked opponent. Stosur won the U.S. Open in 2011 and also made the final of the French Open in 2010.
Also, American Varvara Lepchenko was a 6-4, 6-0 winner over Zheng Saisai of China. The 46th-ranked Lepchenko, who has yet to win a WTA title, saved four of six break points.
Qualifier Johanna Konta of Britain ousted 13th-seeded Andrea Petkovic of Germany in straight sets while Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Coco Vandeweghe of the United States also advanced to the second round.
Maria Sharapova, who has not played since her semifinal loss to Serena Williams at Wimbledon due to a leg injury, is in the Wuhan Open on a wild card.
Sharapova has got a bye and is due to play Czech player Barbora Strycova in the second round.