Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, 10 June 2015 | tennis.com.au

Casey Dellacqua has opened her grasscourt season on the perfect note with a straight-sets victory over Sesil Karatantcheva in the first round of the AEGON Open in Nottingham.

Dellacqua posted a 7-5 6-3 win over the Bulgarian, continuing the grasscourt form that saw her reach the semis on the lawns of Birmingham last year.

The Australian watched as the resurgent Karatantcheva – who returned to the top 100 this week after reaching the second round at Roland Garros – double-faulted nine times during the one hour, 17 minute contest.

Dellacqua, the No.6 seed at the WTA International-level event, next faces rising Croatian star Ana Konjuh.

Another Aussie, Jarmila Gajdosova, was a first-round victim at the hands of American Christina McHale.

Gajdosova, who had won three matches in straight sets to qualify for the main draw, fell 6-4 6-3.