Tennis: Wozniacki through in Sydney

5th-seed Czech Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon champion, continued her form slump in Sydney, losing 6-1, 6-1 to Cibulkova.

SYDNEY: World number eight Petra Kvitova’s Australian Open preparations were dealt another blow on Sunday when she was trounced in straight sets at the Sydney International by Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova. Fifth-seed Czech Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon champion, continued her form slump in Sydney, losing 6-1, 6-1 to Cibulkova. Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki had more luck, downing Urszula Radwanska 6-1, 6-2 in a powerful return to form that saw her take the first set in just 26 minutes. The Dane said she was relieved to notch a win ahead of the season’s first Grand Slam which begins in next week. “I’m just happy to get the first win of the season under my belt and just move on,” said the former world number one.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2013.