Taipei Times
Date: Jan 02, 2019
By: Dave Carroll  /  Staff reporter, with AFP, AUCKLAND, New Zealand

Taiwanese No. 1 Hsieh Su-wei yesterday began her season with a comfortable straight-sets victory at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, while the ageless Venus Williams launched her 25th year as a professional by outlasting Victoria Azarenka in a three-set thriller.

Hsieh, who began the season as the world No. 28 after claiming her third title in Hiroshima, Japan, in September, her first since 2012, cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 victory over world No. 85 Polona Hercog in 63 minutes.

The Taiwanese third seed saved three of four break points and converted four of eight, winning 58 of the 100 points contested to improve her career record over the Slovenian to 3-2.

Hsieh next faces reigning Olympic champion and world No. 53 Monica Puig of Puerto Rico in the second round today, against whom she has a 0-2 career record.
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