Intro:

Australian Sam Stosur was taken to three sets before beating Lucie Safarova 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, but Apia International Sydney fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki had to retire during the second set of her match against Barbora Zahlavova Styrcova.

Script:

Home favourite Sam Stosur was given a stern test in the opening round of the Sydney International.

Lucie Safarova was Stosur's opponent as she eventually beat the Czech after being taken to a third set winning 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3.

Stosur will face another Czech in the second round, Barbora Zahlavova Styrcova.

Zahlavova Styrcova advanced after Caroline Wozniacki had to withdraw from their first round match.

The Dane called for the trainer on several occasions during the first set due to a problem with a left wrist.

Zahlavova Styrcova won the opening set 6-4 and it was 1-1 in the second when tournament fourth seed Wozniacki called it a day.

With just a week until the start of the Australian Open it is far from ideal preparation for Wozniacki who'd been showing some good form recently beating

Zahlavova Styrcova in three sets to reach the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland in New Zealand last week, before losing the decider to Venus Williams.