Garbiñe Muguruza opened up her title defence at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 win over Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova.
The fourth seeded Spaniard won the tricky encounter in 2 hours and 24 minutes.
In the second round, she will take on Veronika Kudermetova of Russia, who defeated former World No.1 and 2010 Dubai finalist Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-4.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus beat Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-1, while Tunisia's Ons Jabeur overcame former World No.2 Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
Elsewhere, no.9 seed Danielle Collins of the US retired from her first-round match against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic due to dizziness (2-6, 3-0).
The 38th-ranked Vondrousova will next face Russia's Varvara Gracheva, who defeated Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 7-5.
Iran will be at World Cup and will play in the US, says FIFA boss
Abu Dhabi advises fans to arrive early for Al Ain, Al Wahda match
Sangakkara, Mahanama named in interim committee to run Sri Lanka Cricket
Focused Fils making a statement ahead of French Open
Atletico hit back to hold Arsenal in cagey Champions League semi-final first leg
