Abanda takes first step in Aussie Open qualifying

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Montreal’s Françoise Abanda is off to a good start to the Australian Open, posting a 6-4, 6-3 victory over China’s Jia-Jing Lu in a qualifying match Thursday.

Abanda got the upper hand in one hour and six minutes. She is ranked 122nd in the WTA, while Lu is 169th.

Abanda will face Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in the second round of qualifiers. Schmiedlova defeated Australian Isabelle Wallace 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.

Carol Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont., lost 6-3, 6-0 to Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic.

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., also lost her match, falling 6-1, 6-1 to Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru.