LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - A year after climbing as high as No.22 in the world, Carla Suárez Navarro is fighting to return to that form as she continues to recover from a right ankle injury that caused her to miss a big chunk of this season, including Wimbledon.

Suárez Navarro, whose 2009 included an upset of Venus Williams en route to a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open and a run to the final in Marbella, took a step in the right direction on Monday, as she edged Kristina Barrois in the first round of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open, 64 26 75. It was a struggle, though, with the Spaniard dropping three straight games after having a 5-2 lead in the third set, a set that also saw her lose three match points while up 5-4. However, Suárez Navarro, who also won her only previous meeting with Barrois earlier this year in Barcelona, took the final two games to secure the match, her first win in a main draw since Fés in April.

Also Monday, Angelique Kerber handled 15-year-old wildcard Yulia Putintseva, 63 61, and Anne Keothavong defeated wildcard Virginie Razzano, 61 64, her first win in three career encounters with the Frenchwoman.

In the final round of qualifying, Mona Barthel, Kathrin Woerle, Lucie Hradecka and Ivana Lisjak secured berths in the main draw with victories.

Tuesday's schedule includes No.1 seed and 2008 Luxembourg champion Elena Dementieva facing off against Peng Shuai and No.2 seed Aravane Rezai taking on Barthel.