It might have been well past her bedtime, but tournament top seed Sabine Lisicki hit the hay knowing she has a day off today and a spot in tomorrow's second round.
The world's 15th-ranked player wasn't totally convincing in her 6-4, 6-4 win over Virginie Razzano, but never looked like losing. "It's always tough to play the first match of the year," she said. "I twice lost a little bit of concentration."
This is the first year Sky has covered the ASB Classic and the impact has been immediate with marquee singles matches now featuring at night.
With a number of drawn-out encounters, Lisicki's match did not start until 8.50pm and didn't finish until 10.15pm. In the night's last match, which finished about midnight, Mona Barthel defeated Jelena Dokic 7-6, 6-1.
The players might have learned to accept late matches, but New Zealand crowds are less enamoured of the idea, with only the hardiest souls remaining by the close.
