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Hobart, Australia (SportsNetwork.com) - Fifth-seeded American Sloane Stephens moved into the second round at the Hobart International with a two-set victory over Romanian Monica Niculescu Sunday.
Stephens took advantage of six double faults from her opponent and scored a 6-4, 6-2 victory in 67 minutes in this Australian Open tune-up.
Sixth-seeded Czech Klara Koukalova was ousted by Japan's Kurumi Nara, 0-6, 6-2, 6-1.
One other first-round result Sunday saw Estonia's Kaia Kanepi upend Monica Puig of Puerto Rico, 6-4, 6-1.
Australian Casey Dellacqua is the top seed, followed by Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas.
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