Halep, Sharapova off to flying starts in Shenzhen
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World No. 1 Simona Halep began the year in emphatic style with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Nicole Gibbs as Maria Sharapova also romped through her first-round match at the Shenzhen Open yesterday.
Romania’s Halep, who will be seeking her maiden grand slam title at the Australian Open in two weeks’ time, struck 12 winners to blitz the 110th-ranked American in one hour and nine minutes.
“We had a big crowd, which was nice to play in front of,” Halep said after her first-round match in the southern Chinese city, where she won in 2015.
Halep won the first set with the help of an aggressive forehand, and then opened the second set with a crunching backhand winner down the line before running away with the match. “It’s always nice to play here in Shenzhen,” she added. “I won a title here three years ago already. It’s my first victory this year as number one in the world, so I’m just happy and enjoying the time.”
Meanwhile, five-time grand slam champion Sharapova, making her Shenzhen debut, also despatched Romania’s world No. 56 Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-3, 6-0 in an hour and 20 minutes.
The Russian, who is embarking on her first full season since returning from a 15-month doping ban in April, sealed her straight sets win after striking 18 winners to 20 unforced errors.
“It’s quite remarkable to see a full stadium for a first round,” she said. “It’s my first time here, so I didn’t know what to expect.”
Halep will next face China’s Duan Yingying while Sharapova will play American Alison Riske.
In Brisbane, Elina Svitolina believes she can become world No. 1 this year despite a host of challengers for the coveted top ranking. The Ukrainian, currently ranked sixth in the world, was speaking after an impressive 6-2, 6-4 win over Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro at the Brisbane International yesterday. The 22-year-old cruised through the first set but was forced to fight harder in the second as Suarez Navarro began to find her range with powerful groundstrokes. But the Spaniard faltered while serving at 4-5 and Svitolina was able to close out the match in just under 90 minutes.
Svitolina won five titles in 2017 on her way to a career-high world ranking of number 3. She said she had worked hard during the off-season and there was no reason why she could not win a grand slam or take the top ranking.
Svitolina said her ability to raise her game to see off someone as dangerous as Suarez Navarro showed she was also capable of taking the next step.
“This match was a good example that I can play a good level of tennis, a high level of tennis,” she said. “So I will try to continue to work and to, you know, to just be focused on these kind of things.
“That’s what’s important for me — and then the grand slam and No. 1 is all going to come if I have my game, if I’m healthy, if I’m playing my best.”
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