Intro:

Number seven seed Simona Halep was knocked out in the first round of the Apia International Sydney by Madison Keys on Sunday.

Script:

The Apia International in Sydney got underway on Sunday with number seven seed Simona Halep facing Madison Keys in the first match at Ken Rosewall Arena.

Halep was one of the rising stars of 2013 winning six tournament to climb to her current position of world number 11, but the Romanian was second best on the day.

Keys of the United States dominated the first set and despite squandering a 5-1 lead in the second, the world number 38 managed to complete a 6-1, 6-4 victory.

Sara Errani faced Roberta Vinci, in an all-Italian clash.

Vinci had won the last two matches with her compatriot, but number three seed Errani looked in good touch here at a break up in the first set.

Errani, the World Number 7 won the first 6-4 and went on to win the second 6-2 win.

In the final match of the day there was somewhat of an upset.

Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova's bad start to the 2014 season continued, after losing to 17-year-old Ashleigh Barty, in Brisbane, the World No 33 went out in the first round here.

Wild card, and 73rd in the World, Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia clinched a place in the second round after beating Hantuchova 6-4, 7-5.

Tomljanovic will now face Madison Keys in the second round. With both players causing big upsets, both should be full of confidence....