Hantuchova handles upstart Slovak

Jan 2, 2007, 7:05 GMT

Auckland - Third seed Daniela Hantuchova overcame a lapse against a fellow Slovak to ease into the second round of the ASB Classic 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 over teenaged Dominika Cibulkova on Tuesday.

Hantuchova was joined as a winner by top-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic, who won her opening match of the 2007 season over German Julia Schruff 6-3, 6-4.

US Open semi-finalist Jankovic has not won a title since 2004 when she claimed the crown at Budapest. The world number 12 was no match for Schruff, ranked 82nd, who has not won a match since August as a slump deepens.

World number 17 Hantuchova, a 2006 Auckland semi-finalist, had a battle from the start against her 17-year-old opponent.

'I played great in the first set, but I relaxed and began making too many errors,' Hantuchova said after her great escape against Cibulkova. 'But I was able to focus again in the third.'

Hantuchova, who reached the fourth round at three Grand Slams last season, is looking for her first WTA title since Indian Wells five years ago.

She next plays Virginie Razzano, France, a winner over Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 7-6 (7-1), 6-1.

Home fans got a thrill as teenaged wildcard Marina Erakovic put out 90th-ranked American Meilen Tu 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

The number 162 will next go against seventh-seeded Greek Eleni Daniilidou, winner of the title in 2003 and 2004.

German Martina Muller, seeded sixth, lost 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 to Argentine Paola Suarez while American Laura Granville beat Swiss-based Italian Romina Oprandi 6-3 6-4.