Sabine Lisicki makes winning start in Brisbane

Reigning Wimbledon finalist, Sabine Lisicki, began her new season on a winning note in Brisbane, after pulling off a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova.

Elina Svitolina also advanced to the second round of the event, after shoving a 6-3, 6-3 conquest of American Varvara Lepchenko in one hour and 14 minutes.

Swiss Stefanie Voegele produced a clinical performance en route her 6-4, 6-3 victory over 38th-ranked Madison Keys in the opening-round encounter that last just over an hour.

Earlier in the day, Alla Kudryavtseva, Heather Watson, Alexandra Panova and Ashleigh Barty had made it into the main round via qualifiers.