Vinci overcomes Smitkova

Luxembourg - Sixth-seeded Roberta Vinci of Italy has reached the second round at the Luxembourg Open with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Tereza Smitkova of the Czech Republic on Monday.

Struggling with her first serve, the 2010 champion was broken twice but converted six of 11 break points against her 84th-ranked opponent.

Vinci was joined in the next round by eighth-seeded Monica Niculescu of Romania, who defeated Germany's Antonia Lottner 6-2, 6-2.

Top-seeded Andrea Petkovic is headlining the field at the $250 000 hard court tournament.

Results from the first day of the WTA Luxembourg Open on Monday (x denotes seeding):

First round
Mona Barthel (GER) bt Mandy Minella (LUX) 6-3, 6-4
Patricia Mayr-Achleitner (AUT) bt Karin Knapp (ITA) 2-3 retired
Roberta Vinci (ITA x6) bt Tereza Smitkova (CZE) 6-1, 6-3
Monica Niculescu (ROM x8) bt Antonia Lottner (GER) 6-2, 6-2