Rogers Cup: Kvitova, Stosur cruise in openers

Petra Kvitova, the 2012 champion in Montreal, and Samantha Stosur, runner-up a year earlier, were untroubled at the WTA Premier event.

Czech Petra Kvitova in action against Magda Linette.

Petra Kvitova and Samantha Stosur eased through their openers at the Rogers Cup on Monday.

The 2012 Montreal champion, Kvitova, dropped just three games against Magda Linette. The 12th seed needed less than an hour to dispose of Linette 6-1, 6-2. The Czech managed to break serve four times and did not face a break point.

Australian Stosur got the better of Heather Watson 7-5, 6-3 in the first round.

GOOD DAY FOR SEEDS

It was an excellent day for seeds, with Elena Svitolina joining Kvitova and Stosur in the second round. The Ukrainian 17th seed was a 6-2, 6-4 winner over American qualifier Jennifer Brady.

Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni lost just nine second-set points in a 6-2, 6-0 thrashing of Nao Hibino. Madison Brengle came from behind to beat Ekaterina Makarova, recovering from 4-2 down in the third set to claim a 6-4 1-6 6-4 win.