Daniela Hantuchova was stretched by Maria Sanchez Lorenzo in the first round of the J&S Cup in Warsaw.
The Slovak, who has made just one quarter-final all year, lost the first five games of the match.
But the former top-10 player battled back to dismiss the Spaniard 6-7 6-3 6-3 for her sixth win of 2004.
She will face eighth seed Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi next after the Israeli beat Switzerland's Marie-Gayanay Mikaelian 6-3 6-2.
World number 30 Elena Bovina recovered from a set down to beat Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik 4-6 6-3 6-1.
Fellow Russian Vera Douchevina overcame Czech qualifier Kveta Peschke 7-5 6-3 to reach the second round.
Polish wild card Marta Domachowska survived a blip in the first set, when she lost four straight games, to see off American Kristen Schlukebir.
The home favourite eventually swept to a 6-4 6-0 victory over the qualifier.
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