Rain interrupted the first round of ASB Classic tennis qualifying matches in Auckland today but there was enough time for New Zealander Di Hollands to account for countrywoman Kairangi Vano.
The athletic Hollands took three sets in humid conditions to beat the powerful Vano 6-2 1-6 6-4.
Hollands gains six WTA ranking points and $US460 in prizemoney for making the second round, but she will face the 85th ranked Mathilde Johansson of France, the top qualifying seed in the second round. Johansson eased past Germany's Anne Schaefer 7-6(4) 6-2.
The tenacious Hollands, 25, has no current WTA singles ranking while Vano, 19 is ranked at over 600. The pair are competing for places in the New Zealand Fed Cup team in Perth in February with Hollands holding the upper hand after many recent wins. She has been Vano five times in the past six weeks.
Vano may still be a contender for the side with Ellen Barry out injured and Sacha Jones missing the ASB Classic through wanting to remain in Florida.
In other matches, former top-30 player Michaella Krajicek from the Netherlands easily defeated American Carly Gullickson 6-0 6-4 to move into the second round.
Krajicek, 19, suffered major injury problems during 2008 but is keen to break back into the top-100 from her current position of 203 which meant she required a wildcard into the qualifying draw.
Krajicek now faces Portugal's Neuza Silva who beat sixth seed Julie Ditty (United States) in straight sets.
Other first round winners were Belarus player Ekaterina Dzehaleich over Britain's Elena Baltacha while Kristina Barrois defeated fellow German, Martina Muller in straight sets.
Seventh seed Stephanie Dubois of Canada had a straightforward win over Tomoko Yonemura of Japan and Aiko Nakamura (Japan) beat Germany's Kathrin Woerle 6-4 6-4.
Second round qualifying continues from 10am on Sunday with final round matches completed on Monday morning.
Play in the main tournament starts on Monday, continuing until the final next Saturday.
