Caroline Garcia through to second round in Dubai

Fifth seed Caroline Garcia booked her place in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Championships with a 6-3 7-5 win over Lucie Safarova.

The French world number seven forced an early break to open up a commanding 3-0 lead in the first set, which she swiftly closed out.

While the second set proved a tighter affair, with Czech player Safarova breaking back to level at 4-4, Garcia’s experience eventually told as she went on to claim Tuesday’s late match in one hour and 23 minutes.

German Angelique Kerber, the tournament’s sixth seed, is also safely through after earlier beating Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2 6-1.

Lucky loser Wang Qiang of China saw off Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens 6-3 6-0 to book a second-round tie against top seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the world number four.

Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro defeated Russia’s Sofya Zhuk 6-2 6-2 and will next play Czech world number five Karolina Pliskova, the third seed.

American Catherine Cartan Bellis progressed to round two with a 6-3 6-3 win over Belgium’s Elise Mertens, while Anett Kontaveit came from behind to beat Australian qualifier Samantha Stosur 1-6 6-2 6-4.

Italian Sara Errani defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-4 6-3 to set up a second-round match against Kerber, the world number nine.

At the Hungarian Open in Budapest, fourth seed Sorana Cirstea suffered an unexpected first-round defeat when the Romanian was beaten 6-4 6-2 by lucky loser Viktoria Kuzmova of Slovakia.

Compatriot Mihaela Buzarnescu, though, progressed as the fifth seed defeated Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena 7-6 (7/5) 6-1.

Aliaksandra Sasnovich, the sixth seed, saw off Italian Roberta Vinci 6-3 6-3 while number seven seed Aleksandra Krunic beat Georgina Garcia Perez 6-2 6-4.

Eighth seed Donna Vekic won 6-3 6-3 against Panna Udvardy.

The Croatian will meet Ysaline Bonaventure in round two after the Belgian’s 6-0 6-0 victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo, while Sweden’s Johanna Larsson beat Magdalena Frech 6-1 7-6 (7/5).