MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Defending champion Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria and Italian qualifier Karin Knapp won in straight sets to advance to the second round of the Grand Prix SAR on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Bertens rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the first set to beat Hungarian qualifier Timea Babos 7-5, 6-2.
A 2010 Wimbledon semifinalist, Pironkova broke twice in each set to defeat Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-1.
Knapp won the first 11 games in her 6-0, 6-1 rout of Moroccan wild card Lina Qostal.
