Tennis: Wozniacki crashes out in Tokyo

Defending champion loses to unseeded Estonian.

TOKYO: Unseeded Estonian Kaia Kanepi toppled world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the Pan Pacific Open tournament, dashing the Dane’s hopes of defending her title in Tokyo.

The 21-year-old Wozniacki, playing her first tournament since the US Open two weeks ago, bowed to the 43rd-ranked Estonian 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 in the third round.

“I felt I played some good tennis in the second set, and a half in the third,” said Wozniaki. “I just couldn’t get any first serves in. I think I should have won that match.”

Crowd-favourite Maria Sharapova needed just over two hours to defeat Germany’s Julia Goerges 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) and set up a revenge match against Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova.

The 21-year-old Czech, who defeated Sharapova in the final to claim her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July, outclassed American Vania King 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the quarter-finals.

“I have a tough loss against her at Wimbledon,” said Sharapova said of her two-set defeat to the Czech. “I hope I can learn from the match and raise my level. No matter how good she plays. I’m looking forward to it.”

Her compatriot Maria Kirilenko, who eliminated US Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia in the second round, kept her momentum by beating former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-1. Fourth-seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia whipped Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-2, while seventh-seed Marion Bartoli of France breezed past China’s Peng Shuai 6-2, 6-1.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th,  2011.