Local favourite Anke Huber survived a fright in her opening match at the Porsche Grand Prix before beating Russian Elena Likhovtseva.

She eventually came through 6-3 2-6 6-2 to reach the second round of the tournament she has won twice.

Huber, champion in 1991 and 1994, struggled for nearly two hours and served up 15 double faults.

The 26-year-old is retiring after next year's Australian Open and might be playing her last event in Germany unless she manages to qualify for the season-ending WTA Tour Championship in Munich.

She will now meets Kim Clijsters, the Belgian fourth seed, and admits she need to raise her game.

"I'll certainly not be the favourite against Kim Clijsters because she has been playing extremely well this year but I'll try my best and we'll see what happens."