Lisicki cruises in Brisbane International

Brisbane (Australia) (AFP) - Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki cruised into the second round of the Brisbane International with a straight-sets win over Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova on Sunday.

Lisicki had no trouble with the Slovakian or the 42 degrees Celsius heat on Pat Rafter Arena, winning 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes.

The popular German inflicted one of only four defeats on Serena Williams in 2013 when she shocked the world number one in the fourth round of Wimbledon.

She went on to reach the final, where nerves appeared to get the better of her as she lost to France's Marion Bartoli.

Lisicki was never in any trouble against Rybarikova and now meets Swiss player Stefanie Voegele in the second round.

Voegele progressed when she beat American Madison Keys 6-4, 6-3.

Lisicki's German countrywoman Andrea Petkovic set up a second-round clash against defending champion Williams when she downed American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in two tough sets 6-4, 7-5.

Japan's evergreen 43-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm defeated Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska 6-3, 7-5, while Ukraine's Elina Svitolina beat Varvara Lepchenko of the US 6-3, 6-3.