Caroline Wozniacki edges Stosur 46 61 75
Wozniacki Survives Dubai Scare
DUBAI, UAE - Caroline Wozniacki was given a stern examination in her opening outing at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, requiring three sets and nearly three hours to see off Samantha Stosur on Tuesday.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Dubai right here on wtatennis.com!
All eight of Wozniacki's previous encounters with Stosur had been tightly contested affairs and it was clear from the outset that number nine would be no different. Stosur struck first, passing Wozniacki at the net to claim the decisive break in the penultimate game of the first set.
Hampered by a preexisting knee injury, Wozniacki called for the trainer and, in spite of the strapping, came out at the start of the second with a spring in her step. The Dane broke immediately and then repeated the trick to put the set beyond Stosur. When the Australian then floated a backhand long to hand over the early initiative in the decider the match looked to be heading for a swift conclusion.
Stosur, however, had no intention of going down without a fight, twice foiling the No.3 seed's attempts to serve for the match. As has been so often the case down the years, Wozniacki found a way to haul herself over the finishing line, taking a marathon final when Stosur ballooned a tired forehand beyond the baseline.
Her reward for this 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 win is a meeting with last year's runner-up Alizé Cornet, who ended the hopes of wildcard Cagla Buyukakcay, 6-2, 6-4.
Also advancing to the third round on Wozniacki's side of the draw were fellow seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Angelique Kerber. No.6 seed Makarova, who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, continued her fine form with a brisk 6-3, 6-3 win over qualifier Kateryna Kozlova, while No.7 seed Kerber edged out Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6(9), 6-4.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Dubai right here on wtatennis.com!
All eight of Wozniacki's previous encounters with Stosur had been tightly contested affairs and it was clear from the outset that number nine would be no different. Stosur struck first, passing Wozniacki at the net to claim the decisive break in the penultimate game of the first set.
Hampered by a preexisting knee injury, Wozniacki called for the trainer and, in spite of the strapping, came out at the start of the second with a spring in her step. The Dane broke immediately and then repeated the trick to put the set beyond Stosur. When the Australian then floated a backhand long to hand over the early initiative in the decider the match looked to be heading for a swift conclusion.
Stosur, however, had no intention of going down without a fight, twice foiling the No.3 seed's attempts to serve for the match. As has been so often the case down the years, Wozniacki found a way to haul herself over the finishing line, taking a marathon final when Stosur ballooned a tired forehand beyond the baseline.
Her reward for this 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 win is a meeting with last year's runner-up Alizé Cornet, who ended the hopes of wildcard Cagla Buyukakcay, 6-2, 6-4.
Also advancing to the third round on Wozniacki's side of the draw were fellow seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Angelique Kerber. No.6 seed Makarova, who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, continued her fine form with a brisk 6-3, 6-3 win over qualifier Kateryna Kozlova, while No.7 seed Kerber edged out Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6(9), 6-4.
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