Lisicki continues comeback from injury

Germany's Sabine Lisicki, who won this event two years ago, got off to a successful start on Tuesday in her opening match at the WTA Charleston clay court tournament.

Wild card Lisicki hammered two aces and won 75 percent of her first serve points by rallying to beat Czech Renata Voracova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Lisicki, of Troisdorf, was forced to miss the 2010 Charleston event after suffering a ankle injury that left her on crutches for a long spell.

"Basically I had to learn to walk again," she said. "That's why this match means so much to me, you know, after all that I went through and I came back and won my first match."

Her world ranking has fallen more than 150 spots to No. 182 because of the injury.

Lisicki was first up on the main court as thunderstorms delayed some of the matches on Tuesday.

In other matches, Maria Kirilenko easily beat American Varvara Lepchenko 6-4, 6-0, Daniela Hantuchova ousted Alla Kudryavtseva 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova defeated fellow Czech Andrea Hlavackova 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7/6).

Tamira Paszek also beat American Melanie Oudin 6-1, 7-5.