Sixth seed and Wimbledon Quarterfinalist Sabine Lisicki made an impressive start to her title campaign at the BGL Luxembourg Open with an emphatic 6-1, 6-4 win over Iveta Benesova to reach the second round here in Luxembourg City.

The German was later joined  by the third seeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues, who took out compatriot Arantxa Parra Santonja 7-5, 6-2 to move ahead in the draw.

In the day's last main draw singles match, No.8 Carla Suarez Navarro struggled before registering a 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 victory over local favourite Mandy Minella, winning the two hour 20 minutes match with the help of a solid 73% break point conversion rate.

In the doubles draw, US Open singles champion Kim Clijsters made a powerful comeback since triumphing at the Flushing Meadows, winning the doubles match alongside fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens to beat the British-American duo of Sarah Borwell and Raquel Kops-Jones with a thrashing 6-2, 6-0 scoreline.

"It's fun and exciting to be back on court," Clijsters said. "It took some time to adjust to the indoor court with the lights and the roof, but I'm happy to be here. It's so much fun to play doubles before my singles. I really like playing here. I won my first tournament here 10 years ago and I love coming back. I like the club atmosphere, it makes it all so easy."