LINZ, Austria (AP) — Fifth-seeded Sabine Lisicki of Germany lost to Alberta Brianti of Italy at the Generali Ladies on Wednesday, falling 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the first round.
The Wimbledon semifinalist blew a 5-2 lead in the first set, then rallied to take the second set, but couldn’t take advantage of an early break in the third against the 74th-ranked Brianti.
Former champion Daniela Hantuchova missed a match point in the second set tiebreaker, but still held off Petra Martic of Croatia 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-1.
Ninth-ranked Flavia Pennetta of Italy defeated Elena Vesnina of Russia 7-6 (4), 6-2 and next will play Australia’s Anastasia Rodionova, who beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (6), 6-1.
