Birmingham, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Top seed Ana Ivanovic was an easy second-round winner Tuesday at the Aegon Classic, a grass-court Wimbledon tune-up.
The former world No. 1 star handled German Mona Barthel 6-4, 6-1 at Edgbaston Priory Club.
In opening-round action involving seeds on Day 2, No. 12 Monica Puig, of Puerto Rico, overcame Swiss Stefanie Voegele 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-2, Aussie Johanna Konta upended No. 14 Kurumi Nara, of Japan, 6-3, 6-1, and No. 16 Aussie Casey Dellacqua pasted Pole Urszula Radwanska 6-1, 6-3.
Several other women notched first-round wins, including American Christina McHale and Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak. McHale topped Slovak Anna Schmiedlova 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
Slovak Daniela Hantuchova beat Croat Donna Vekic in last year's Birmingham finale.