Cibulkova pulls out, Radwanska through in Dubai

World number 16 Dominika Cibulkova hobbled out of her opening match at WTA Dubai.

The Slovak played just four games of her match against Czech qualifier Iveta Benesova before she was forced to retire while trailing 3-1, handing Benesova a second-round match against Germany's Sabine Lisicki.

Fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska made the second round, but only after coming through a two-and-a-half hour tussle with Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak.

Radwanska cruised through the opening set against the world number 80, but lost the second in a tie-break before edging a tough-fought final set to win 6-1 6-7(8) 7-5.

Czech Lucie Safarova also had to hold firm against a qualifier to progress to the second round, beating Croatia's Petra Martic 6-3 5-7 6-3.

In the day's other matches Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia beat Polona Hercog of Slovenia 1-6 7-5 7-6(4) and Simona Halep of Romania beat Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-2.