KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Defending champion Jelena Dokic of Australia and fifth-seeded Petra Martic of Croatia won first-round matches Monday at the Malaysian Open.
Dokic, seeded seventh, beat Kristina Mladenovic of France 6-3, 6-1. The fifth-seeded Martic rallied past Erika Sema of Japan 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Olivia Rogowska of Australia also advanced, downing Elitsa Kostova of Bulgaria 6-4, 6-0.
Two Japanese players reached the second round. Misaki Doi held off Olga Puchkova of Russia 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, and Kurumi Nara topped Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand 6-4, 6-3.
