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Fast start for top stars but Wang shocks Pliskova
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World No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki and Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber eased through their opening matches at the Wuhan Open in central China’s Hubei Province yesterday.
Australian Open champion Wozniacki, who received a first-round bye, was barely troubled by the 61st-ranked Swede Rebecca Peterson, winning 6-4, 6-1 to set up a third-round clash with Olympic champion Monica Puig of Puerto Rico, who romped past Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 6-2, 6-2.
Sixth-ranked Elina Svitolina became the biggest Wuhan casualty so far when the Ukrainian was beaten 4-6, 6-2, 1-6 by 20th-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.
Joining Svitolina on the sidelines was eighth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova, who tumbled out after a 1-6, 6-3, 3-6 second-round loss to home favorite Wang Qiang. Pliskova was coming off an impressive title victory at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she beat US Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan in the final.
Wang joins Zhang Shuai as the only Chinese players in the third round of the premier WTA tournament. Zhang beat Polona Hercog of Slovakia 6-2, 7-5 on Monday night.
Peterson offered some resistance in the first set, breaking Wozniacki’s serve at 5-2, but faded as the Dane — who lost her first match at the Pan Pacific Open last week — quickly regained control as she looks for a good run in Wuhan to secure a return to the WTA Finals, which she won last year.
“It’s great to get a good start, obviously. Every match counts,” Wozniacki said.
“I’m just trying to keep my head down and keep focused and try to win as much as I can to get that (WTA Finals) spot.”
World No. 3 Kerber has already qualified for next month’s Finals which will be held in Singapore and advanced after a knee injury forced her American opponent Madison Keys to retire.
The German looked set for a big win over the 2017 US Open semifinalist and was leading 6-0, 4-1 when Keys could not continue.
“I was feeling good. I played the first set really well,” Kerber said. “It’s nice to be in the next round.
“The first rounds are... not easy. You have to find your rhythm.”
Kerber, who could return to world No. 1 with a successful end to the season, said earlier this week she was not concerned about rankings.
“For me it’s the most important thing, that I go on court, play my best, have fun out there, enjoying every single moment,” she said on Monday.
“We will see what’s happening at the end of the year.”
In the round of 16, Kerber lined up Australian Ashleigh Barty, last year’s finalist, who saw off the challenge of China’s Zheng Saisai 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Two-time Wuhan Open winner Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic cruised past Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia 6-3, 6-4.
Defending champion Caroline Garcia of France, however, lost to Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova in the night session, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4).
Other winners included Daria Gavrilova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Daria Kasatkina.
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