Victoria Azarenka, the former world No.1, has rallied from a set and a break down to beat Anhelina Kalinina 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to reach the second round of the Dubai Open.
Azarenka, 35, trailed 5-2 in the second set and was down 4-2 in the tiebreaker before winning the next five points.
She now faces second-seeded Iga Swiatek, who had a bye into the second round.
Diana Shnaider, the second seed, ousted Magdalena Frech 6-2 6-2 while No.12 Mirra Andreeva beat Elina Avanesyan 6-2 6-1 to set up a meeting with 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Two seeded players were knocked out on Monday. Daria Kasatkina, the No 10, lost 6-1 6-4 to Sorana Cirstea and No.13 Beatriz Haddad Maia was eliminated by Anastasia Potapova, who won 6-3 6-0.
Former Wimbledon and US Open runner-up Ons Jabeur also went out, beaten 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 by American Peyton Stearns.
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