Townsend justified her wild card with a compelling display, dispatching Wickmayer 7-5 3-6 6-0 in an impressive display of power tennis.
As good as Townsend was, the world No 75 Wickmayer was out of sorts for much of the match, clearly frustrated as she struggled to find the form that has seen her reach the final of the tournament on three previous occasions.
Townsend struggled from the start, finding some time to adjust to the swirly conditions at Stanley Street.
The American - a former No 1 junior - was making her first appearance in Auckland while her opponent had been here on six previous occasions.
The Belgian grabbed the first break and held a handy 4-1 lead in the first set before Townsend got her game together.
The 18-year-old took six of the next seven games to take the set as Wickmayer got increasingly frustrated, slamming her racquet into the court at one changeover.
Townsend can be erratic but showed great mental strength to save three set points, serving at 5-4 down, the third with an audacious squash style flick that drew a bemused smile from the Belgian.
Wickmayer clicked back into gear in the next set, getting an early break and taking the set comfortably 6-3.
The crowd was braced for a epic deciding set but it didn't happen. Townsend found a new level while Wickmayer self-destructed, unable to handle the American's power from the baseline.
The 2010 champion was broken three times as the young wild card took the final set 6-0, converting her third match point.
