Former grand slam finalist Karolina Pliskova breezed through her opener on Sunday at the Brisbane International, while fellow major runner-up Genie Bouchard wasn’t as lucky.
Pliskova, who made the US Open final in September, trotted by Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-1 on Pat Rafter Arena after American Shelby Rogers spoiled Bouchard’s debut at the event earlier on the same court, Rogers winning 6-2 2-6 6-1.
Rogers, ranked No.59 in the world, bested the 46th-ranked Bouchard in one hour, 53 minutes behind eight aces, saving nine of 12 break points she faced while breaking five times herself.
She’ll meet either No.6 seed Elina Svitolina or Olympic champion Monica Puig in the second round.
Pliskova, the No.3 seed has an easier ask in round two – either qualifier Asia Muhammad or wildcard Donna Vekic.
Elsewhere at the Queensland Tennis Centre, Rogers’ American compatriot Christina McHale had won the first main draw match of the tournament, beating Sara Errani 6-3 6-3 to start the day. That match was followed by a cracker with Alize Cornet winning in two hours, 37 minutes with a 3-6 6-4 7-6(5) victory over Elena Vesnina.
The WTA’s extreme heat policy was put to use on Sunday as temperatures soared in the Brisbane area, allowing players a 10-minute break between the second and third sets.
Rogers, also making her Brisbane debut, was a surprise quarterfinalist at last year’s French Open, while Bouchard continues to search for the form that brought her to No.5 in the world in 2014.
“I always take losses as motivation for the next tournament, which usually is the week right after,” said Bouchard, who heads to Sydney next week. “I definitely feel kind of rusty, out of it … I haven’t won a match in a while. All those thoughts kind of go into your head a little bit when you’re on the court.
“There is just lots of work to be done. It’s kind of getting used to playing a tennis match again, in a way. I know everyone feels like that at the beginning of the season, but the lack of matches I have played after the US Open makes it more. I just feel it more for my situation.”