AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - Top seed Sabine Lisicki was an easy first-round winner Monday at the 2012 season-opening ASB Classic tennis event.

The German Lisicki handled French wild card Virginie Razzano 6-4, 6-4 on the hardcourts at ASB Tennis Centre.

Up next for Lisicki will be fellow German Mona Barthel, who dismissed veteran Aussie crowd favorite Jelena Dokic 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

Monday's other seeded winner was No. 4 Flavia Pennetta, as the Italian veteran got past Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Pennetta was the 2010 runner- up here in Auckland.

Other opening-round winners were Brit Elena Baltacha, Italian Sara Errani, rising American Christina McHale and Czech Lucie Hradecka. The 19-year-old McHale doused Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru 6-2, 6-3.

Hungarian Greta Arn topped Belgian Yanina Wickmayer in last year's Auckland finale.

The winner of this $220,000 Australian Open tuneup will claim $37,000.