INDIAN WELLS, United States — Two-time Indian Wells champion Victoria Azarenka shook off a slow start to beat Vera Lapko 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday and set up a second-round meeting with long-time rival Serena Williams.

Azarenka, a former world No. 1 now ranked 48th in the world, said she started a little too passive in dropping the first two games against her fellow Belarussian, but roared back to seal the win with ease.

She was looking forward to taking on 10th-seeded Williams, who like all the seeds in the combined WTA and ATP Masters event has a first-round bye.

The American has won 17 of their 21 prior encounters, but Azarenka won their most recent clash — in the 2016 Indian Wells final.

"Of course it's going to be a very special match for us," she said of their first clash since both became mothers.

"We have such a big history, it's going to be really special. She motivates me, she inspires me, she pushes me to be better," Azarenka said of Williams.

The opening day of women's main draw play saw highly touted teenagers Bianca Andreescu and Amanda Ansimova reached the second round.

Canada's Andreescu, 18, rallied from a set down to beat Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-3.

"For me, the ending is the most important, so I'm really glad I pulled through," said Andreescu, who has won 22 matches this season including qualifying and main draw.

She has climbed steadily in the rankings, rising from 107th to start the year to 60th. "Mentally... I was like, I might as well go for my shots, and see where that leads me and that's what I did, and it worked," said Andreescu, who booked a second-round meeting with 32nd seed Dominika Cibulkova.

American Ansimova, 17, lined up a meeting with 16th-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Serbian Aleksandra Krunic.

Third-seeded Petra Kvitova, who will face either Venus Williams or Andrea Petkovic in the second round, said she wasn't surprised to see teenagers making such a strong showing.

"Every year we see some young generation coming," she said, noting that while still little known they can play "with no fear."

“They are not favorites, all the pressure is on (their opponents)," she said.

Elsewhere, American Sofia Kenin didn't have to wait long to avenge her loss to Wang Yafan in last Saturday's Acapulco women's final — ousting China's Wang 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Kyrgios needs to improve

his fitness: Courier

Nick Kyrgios needs to improve his fitness to have a chance of winning Grand Slams, former world No. 1 Jim Courier said on Wednesday. Australian Kyrgios won his fifth career title last week, beating Rafa Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and John Isner before dispatching Alexander Zverev in the Acapulco final.

Yet Grand Slams are best-of-five set matches which require more endurance than the best-of-three staple found week in and out on tour.

"If we expect this guy to win majors now, I think that's a bridge too far unless he addresses the physical gap between him and the other guys," four-times Grand Slam champion Courier said on the Tennis Channel at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.

"But from a talent, shotmaking showpoint, he showed there is no gap there, because that was a tough draw he went through."

Kyrgios has a 6-6 combined record against Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Nadal, a statistic that does not surprise Courier.

"Those are pressure-free matches for him. He has that first strike ability to take the racket out of their hands with his serve and then he can shock-absorb with his backhand.

"He's dangerous but he's also dangerous to himself at times in the matches on outside court when he goes walkabout like an Aussie can, and he's not as focused."

The 23-year-old Kyrgios jumped to 33rd in the world with his Acapulco win. He is seeded 31st at Indian Wells, giving him the luxury of a first-round bye, though he could meet top seed Djokovic in the third round. First-round men's matches begin on Thursday.

"Big picture, it's nice to see him engaged," said Courier, who recently stepped down after eight years as United States Davis Cup captain. "Hope this (Acapulco title) is a kick starter for him." — Agencies