Hantuchova claims opening win

Second seed Daniela Hantuchova has made a winning start at the Monterrey Open.

The 26-year-old Slovakian avoided following top seed Jelena Jankovic out of the Mexican event as she posted a straight-sets victory.

Hantuchova, a wildcard entry to the tournament, was too strong for Spanish qualifier Lourdes Dominguez Lino, winning their first-round match 6-3 7-6 (8-6) as she seeks her first singles title since 2007.

Jankovic crashed to a dismal opening-round defeat to Latvian teenager Anastasija Sevastova on Wednesday.

Thursday's other matches were all second-round tussles, and seventh seed Aleksandra Wozniak was soundly beaten by unseeded Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-2 6-3.

Cornet's compatriot Julie Coin lost, though, 6-3 6-3 to American Vania King, while Czech player Klara Zakopalova beat Austrian Patricia Mayr 6-4 6-3.

Third-seeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova joined Cornet, King and Zakopalova in the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-3 win against Slovenian Polona Hercog.