Big-hitting Lisicki falls to Kerber

DOHA: The big-hitting No. 9 seed, German Sabine Lisicki, was bounced out of the opening round of the Qatar Total Open 2012, falling to compatriot Angelique Kerber 6-4, 4-6, 1-6 in two hours and 13 minutes on Tuesday.
In another long-drawn affair, Czech Iveta Benesova outlasted countrywoman Barbora Zahalavova Strycov in a little over two hours, coming through 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 .Lucie Safarova, of the Czech Republic, ranked 28 in the world, put out Poland's 21-year-old qualifier Urszula Radwanska 6-3, 6-4. Romania's Sorana Cirstea breezed past Aussie Jarmila Gajdosova 6-4, 6-1 in 57 minutes.