WTA Toray Pan Pacific Open: Dominika Cibulkova wins as earthquake hits Tokyo

Dominika Cibulkova registered her first win in over a month after beating Kirsten Flipkens amid an earthquake at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

The Australian Open finalist had lost four straight matches heading into the first-round clash but was in total control during a 6-1 6-3 win against Flipkens.

During the last game of the match an earthquake with a reported magnitude of 5.6 hit an area to the north of the Japanese capital.

I didn't even feel it. People were talking and I didn't really know what was happening.

Several players at the event took to Twitter to post their experiences but Cibulkova said she did not feel the tremors while on court.

“I didn't even feel it. People were talking and I didn't really know what was happening. But the chair umpire told me afterwards. That's never happened to me," Cibulkova told the WTA’s official website.

She added: "I'm really, really happy with my match today. The last two months were really tough for me. I didn't play as well as I wanted to, and I didn't feel that good on the court.

“So I'm happy to start so well in Asia. I've been playing well in practice, so I'm happy I could also play well in the match."

Lisicki exit

Sabine Lisicki, meanwhile, was knocked out in the first round by Casey Dellacqua just two days after winning her first WTA title in three years.

The former Wimbledon finalist won the Hong Kong Open on Sunday after defeating Karolina Pliskova but the 24-year-old German could not follow up that success in Tokyo as she was edged out by Australian Dellacqua.

Dellacqua claimed a 6-7 (7/5) 7-5 6-2 win to book her place in the second round.

There was disappointment for the home fans in the first round as both Kurumi Nara and Kimiko Date-Krumm exited the tournament.

Nara was beaten 6-1 2-6 6-2 by Carla Suarez Navarro while veteran Date-Krumm threatened to cause an upset before fading away and eventually being defeated 3-6 6-0 6-2 by former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka.