Defending champion Jarmila Gajdosova endured a nervous wait before confirming she was over her Hopman Cup nightmare at the Hobart International on Monday night.
After claiming the first set, Gajdosova led 5-3 in the second but was down 30-40 on serve in her first-round clash with Japanese world number 51 Ayumi Morita when rain forced a delay.
The fifth seed returned to take the match 6-3, 6-4 and set up an all-Australian meeting with Anastasia Rodionova.
But the delay of almost an hour after a shower in Hobart probably could not have come at a worse time for the 24-year-old.
Gajdosova had convincingly won the first set in 39 minutes and, although facing a break point, looked well on her way to victory.
"With the break and everything I was hoping I could finish it so it was good," Gajdosova said.
"You never know what's going to happen, it got a bit dark as well so you don't see the ball as well.
"It was a bit shaky, as you could see, the first couple of points but I'm glad that I returned well in the end."
Gajdosova was hopeful she was back on track as she looks to defend her title.
"Hopefully it's only going to get better," she said.
"It's a good start but if I want to keep winning I have to play a little bit better, so I hope to play a touch better in the second round," she said.
The Australian number two had pleaded with fans on the weekend to give her another chance after a humiliating 6-0, 6-0 loss to world number nine Marion Bartoli at the Hopman Cup had reduced her to tears.
Sections of the crowd had jeered the Slovakian-born right-hander in Perth.
Gajdosova, the world number 34, has won two WTA titles, including last year's Hobart event, and will be desperate to build towards a first-ever win at the Australian Open.
She has exited in the first round in all six of her appearances at Melbourne Park.
AAP
Tags: tennis, sport, hobart-7000 First posted January 09, 2012 23:11:40
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