The Dane, who finished 2010 and 2011 as the world's top-ranked player, started badly when Lisicki broke her in the first service game. But Wozniacki broke straight back, reports Xinhua.
The German broke again to go 4-2 ahead and raced to win the first set in 32 minutes.
Wozniacki pulled 4-0 clear in the second set as Lisicki made errors, winning 6-3 to set up a decider.
But the Dane's game fell apart and she quickly went 0-3 down before winning six consecutive games to record a 2-6, 6-3 and 6-3 win.
Wozniacki has been struggling this year and bundled out of the Brisbane International in the first round before falling at the second round in Sydney.
Wozniacki will play against Czech Andrea Hlavackova or Donna Vekic of Croatia in the second round.
