Australian wildcard Sally Peers stunned seventh seeded Russian Alisa Kleybanova at the Brisbane International.
Upset on day one in Brisbane
Australian wildcard Sally Peers stunned seventh seeded Russian Alisa Kleybanova 3-6 6-4 6-3 in the opening match of the Brisbane International.
The 24-year-old world number 154 ground out victory in two hours and 18 minutes of action in stiflingly hot conditions at the Pat Rafter Arena.
Kleybanova, 21, took the first set comfortably and looked on track to claim the second when she led led 3-2 and 40-0 on her own serve.
But Peers fought back to win that game and claimed the set.
The home favourite then opened up a 5-1 lead in the decider, Kleybanova rallied to 5-3 but Peers closed out the match to the delight of the Brisbane crowd.
"That game that I came back from love-40 gave me a lot of confidence to know that I could stick with her and really fight it out," Peers said.
"I tried to stay out there as long as possible. Maybe she's not used to the warm conditions and I love playing up here, so I think I used that to my advantage."
Down to earth
Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski brought the Brisbane crowd back down to earth when she beat naturalised Australian Anastasia Rodionova 2-6 6-2 6-3.
The world number 80 finished too strongly for the Russian-born Aussie - who is ranked 16 places higher - closing out victory in two hours and nine minutes.
Fifth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fought off a spirited challenge from fellow Russian Alla Kudryavtseva before winning 6-2 6-7 6-3, while Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic beat Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova 6-3 3-6 6-2.
In the day's final match, Australian Jarmila Groth beat Spain's Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2 7-5.
In Sunday's only men's match, Spanish sixth seed Feliciano Lopez saw off German Philipp Petzschner 6-4 7-6, claiming a marathon tie-breaker 13-11.
