Yanina Wickmayer made a winning start to 2010 at the Auckland Classic by beating Julia Goerges.
Belgian Wickmayer, a semi-finalist at the 2009 US Open, was granted a wild card for the event after a Belgian court lifted a year-long ban imposed for falling foul of the controversial 'whereabouts' drug-testing system on three occasions.
She made smooth progress past Goerges, winning 6-3 7-5, and admitted afterwards it was nice to be back on court.
The third seed said: "I was really happy to play again.
"It has been a tough time for me, so it was nice to be on the court again to compete.
"I was the most aggressive on the important points and, physically, a bit better today."
Top seed Flavia Pennetta was another winner, seeing off Jill Craybas 6-2 6-4.
"I was really nervous in the beginning," said Pennetta. "It is tough to start the year with everyone expecting so many things.
"I'm really happy because I didn't play my best tennis, but I was able to get through this match. Maybe the next day I will play much better... I hope so."
Dominika Cibulkova thrashed Alexandra Dulgheru 6-0 6-3, veteran Japanese player Kimiko Date Krumm beat Anna Chakvetadze 6-1 6-2 but eighth seed Anabel Medina Garrigues went down 6-2 6-3 to Magdalena Rybarikova.
In the final match of the day, seventh seed Aravane Rezai beat fellow Frenchwoman Julie Coin 6-4 6-3.
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