Lisicki opens New Haven Open with a win

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki beat Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 6-1 on Sunday to begin play at the New Haven Open.

The match was the first in the main draw. The top seeds take the court Monday and Tuesday.

Lisicki, from Germany, never trailed against the Frenchwoman and won the first five games of the second set, which was interrupted by a brief rain delay.

Lisicki, who lost to Marion Bartoli at Wimbledon, is one of the bigger names in this tournament.

Just four of the top-10 players in the world are participating in the final tuneup before the U.S. Open.

Sara Errani is the top seed. She’s joined in the field by Angelique Kerber, defending champion Petra Kvitova, and Caroline Wozniacki, who is looking for her fifth New Haven title in six years.