Ana Ivanovic suffers another first-round exit

Things went from bad to worse for out-of-form Ana Ivanovic on Sunday after she lost to fifth seed Karolina Pliskova in the first round of the Sydney International.

Ivanovic suffered a swift opening-round exit at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Tuesday, the second seed stunned by qualifier Naomi Broady in straight sets.

And it did not get any better for Ivanovic in her search for her first win in 2016 after being granted a wildcard for the WTA hard-court tournament, eliminated 6-4 6-2 at the hands of the Czech world number 11.

Ivanovic was no match for Pliskova, who sent down 14 aces to four and broke four times throughout the contest, which lasted one hour, 19 minutes.

Swiss sixth seed Timea Bacsinszky was another first-round casualty in Sydney, overrun 1-6 6-1 6-3 by Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

Bacsinszky threatened to run away with the match after breezing her way through the opening set but the 2015 Wimbledon quarter-finalist faltered dramatically.

France's Caroline Garcia continued her good form in 2016, accounting for countrywoman Kristina Mladenovic in straight sets.

Garcia posted a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 victory to remain unbeaten this year, having won all three of her matches at the Hopman Cup.

World number two and top seed Simona Halep awaits Garcia in the second round.

In other results, four-time grand slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova crushed Australia wildcard Tammi Patterson 6-2 6-0.

Kuznetsova will meet the winner of Sabine Lisicki versus lucky loser Polona Hercog after defending champion Petra Kvitova withdrew earlier on Sunday.

Jelena Jankovic was too good for Coco Vandeweghe 6-3 6-4, while Tsvetana Pironkova prevailed 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 against Lesia Tsurenko.