10 January,2013 10:09 AM IST | | AFP
No 1 seed Ferrer suffered a mid-match slump as he came under pressure from Lu Yen-Hsun of Taiwan in the warm-up event for next week's Australian Open, eventually grinding out a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory.
Chasing a record-equalling fourth Auckland title, the Spanish World No 5 made a perfect start by breaking Lu in the second game, aided by three double faults from his opponent.
Kohlschreiber, the second seed, was also unconvincing and committed 52 unforced errors and four double faults in a rusty 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-3 win over Alejandro Falla.
u00a0