LINZ, Austria (AP) Ana Ivanovic started her quest for a third Generali Ladies title by defeating Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-2, 6-4, while second-seeded Sloane Stephens overcame a slow start to beat Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-1 in the first round on Tuesday.
The third-seeded Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and '10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times.
"The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. "She made me work hard, especially in the second set."
Ivanovic next plays another former French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone of Italy.
Stephens dropped her first two service games but the 12th-ranked American broke Rybarikova three times to take the opening set.