Wozniacki cruises to third round of the Pacific Open

Wozniacki powers her way past Greta Arn to reach the third round of the Pan Pacific Open women’s tennis tournament.

TOKYO: World number two Caroline Wozniacki powered her way past Greta Arn of Hungary to reach the third round of the Pan Pacific Open women’s tennis tournament. The Danish top seed crushed her opponent with a 6-1, 6-3 victory.

Wozniacki comfortably took the first set as Arn hit seven double faults and failed to keep her service games three times. The top seed broke the third game when Arn hit a forehand wide and cashed in on a second match point with Arn’s backhand error that landed in the net for another break in the ninth game.

“It’s a new tournament every year for me. I always try to do my best and I’m happy that I won and got through this first match,” said Wozniacki who won the Japan Open two years ago.

Zvonareva beats Errani

Second-seed Vera Zvonareva maintained her form to beat Sara Errani of Italy for a place in the third round at the Pan Pacific Open women’s tennis tournament. The Russian, who reached a career high fourth in the world after finishing runner-up at the US Open, struggled to hold her serve, losing three games and needed to repeat deuces seven times before serving out for 6-3, 6-3 win. “I knew Sara is a very tough opponent, so I had to concentrate. It’s the first match after a couple of weeks off, so of course it was difficult to play your best tennis,” said Zvonareva.

Azarenka crushes Safarova

Eighth-seed Victoria Azarenka breezed past Czech Lucie Safarova 6-1, 6-3. Azarenka, of Belarus, who had a first-round bye with Zvonareva and Dementieva, was too strong for Safarova, dropping only four games in a 6-1, 6-3 victory. It marked a strong recovery for Azarenka, who just four weeks earlier had fallen over in the searing heat during the US Open before being revived and pushed off court in a wheelchair.

However, Azarenka, ranked 11th in the world, showed no ill-effects against her 30th-ranked opponent, achieving a service break in the opening game in the 77-minute match.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2010.