GOLD COAST (Australia), Dec 30: Fifth-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel moved through to the second round of the Australian Women’s Hardcourt tennis championships on Sunday with a three-set win over American Julie Ditty.

Peer, the only seed in action on the rain-affected first day of the tournament, came from behind to defeat the unheralded Ditty, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2.

“Julie was playing good and she’s not even in the top 100,” Peer said.

“I had a lot of trouble with her. Every match I have to play good.”

In the only other first round matches completed on Sunday, France’s Nathalie Dechy easily defeated beat China’s Zi Yan, 6-2, 6-2, and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus defeated two-time champion Ai Sugiyama of Japan, 6-2, 6-3.

France’s Amelie Mauresmo will play late on Monday against an opponent yet to be decided after rain interrupted the final qualifying matches.

Top seeded Czech Nicole Vaidisova also will play her opening match on Monday against Australian wildcard Casey Dellacqua.

Vaidisova is drawn to play fourth seeded Mauresmo in the semi-finals of the season opener.

Results (x denotes seeding):

First round: Nathalie Dechy (FRA) bt Zi Yan (CHN) 6-2, 6-2; Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 6-2 6-3; Shahar Peer (ISR x5) bt Julie Ditty (US) 3-6 6-0 6-2.—AFP