Seeds Lisicki, Hantuchova beaten in Qatar

DOHA, Qatar (AP) - Seeded players Sabine Lisicki and Daniela Hantuchova lost in the opening round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday after holding one-set leads.

Angelique Kerber overcame a stomach bug to defeat the ninth-seeded Lisicki 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in an all-German match, and Simona Halep of Romania downed the 15th-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) after 2 hours, 32 minutes.

Kerber, a U.S. Open semifinalist who won her first WTA title in Paris last week, will play Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.

Kerber says "it was a difficult match for me because she's not just a great player but a great friend."

Halep will next meet Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic, who beat compatriot Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.