Wozniacki Coasts in Kuala Lumpur Opener

March 3, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Caroline_Wozniacki_02_11
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Caroline Wozniacki rolled in the first-round of the Malaysian Open on Tuesday, beating Chinese qualifier Wang Yafan 6-3, 6-1. The Dane lost in her only other appearance in Kuala Lumpart, a first-round exit two years ago, but made sure that wouldn’t be the case on Tuesday. Wozniacki secured an early break point and never looked back.

“I didn’t do so well when I was here last time, so I’m happy to get my first win in Malysia,” said the top-seeded Wozniacki. “The first match of any tournament is always tough and I’m just happy to be through.”

She broke five times in seven chances and really put her return game on display. The fifth-ranked Wozniacki also saved three of four break points to cruise in just under 70 minutes.

In the second-round, Wozniacki will take on another player from China, Lin Zhu, who took out Ukraine’s Yulia Beygelzimer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to advance on Tuesday.

The second and third seeds of the draw did not fare the same fate as top-seed Wozniacki. Second-seeded German Sabine Lisicki was beaten in straight sets by Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania.

Dulgheru had a lot of success on the powerful serve of Lisiciki, forcing 15 break point chances, converting seven of them on her way to a 6-4, 7-5 victory.

“I know she’s a great player, but I think her confidence is a bit low at the moment and she was struggling a bit on her serve—which is usually her best shot,” said Dulgheru. “Mentally, today I was prepared for her best tennis and stayed focused for every point; because I knew she is capable of hitting winners from nowhere. She showed this at 4-0 down in the second. At that point I just tried to hang in there and I’m really glad I managed to find my rhythm and get through.”

Third-seeded Casey Dellacqua of Australia also bowed out of Kuala Lumpar early, falling to 2012 champion Hsieh Su-Wei of Chinese Taipei. Su-Wei edged Dellacqua 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 to advance to the second-round.

Fourth-seeded Jarmila Gajdosova, fifth-seeded Klara Koukalova and eighth-seeded Julia Goerges all advanced to the second-round on Tuesday as well. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Oneononedoubles banner art resize
USTA NTC

January/February 2024 Digital Edition