Bad Wrist Forces Wozniacki Out of Sydney International

Two days after falling to Venus Williams in the ASB Classic title match, world number eight Caroline Wozniacki retired from her first-round match against Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova at the Sydney International tournament with a wrist injury.

“I felt it during one shot,” said Wozniacki, who was trailing 4-6, 1-1 at the time of her retirement. “I hit it against the wind and hit it late and I felt it in my wrist. I’ve had it before so I know of know what it is. It’s painful every time I had to hit a backhand and I didn’t want to make it worse before Melbourne, so I’m just going to try and get some treatment on it and try and get ready for next week.”

Even before retiring, Wozniacki had called for the trainer three different times in the first set. The treatment she received courtside didn’t do much to relieve her pain.

“I just felt like it was getting a little worse,” said Wozniacki. “I felt like I wasn’t going to win the match without being able to hit like a proper backhand.”

The Dane says she expects to be ready in time for next week’s Australian Open.

As for Zahlavova-Strycova, the Russian moves on and will play Australia’s Samantha Stosur in the next round.

Third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska cruised into the second-round of the Sydney International Monday. The sixth-ranked player in the world from Poland defeated France’s Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-2, exacting a bit of revenge on Cornet, who beat her at the Hopman Cup early last week (Poland ended up winning the title).

The sixth-seed Ekaterina Makarova got past up and comer Elina Svitolina 7-6(1), 6-2, fighting off a set point in the first set to prevail.

“I’m feeling pretty happy about winning my first match of the year,” said Makarova. “Elina is in great shape these days and had a great result last week in Brisbane, and it was especially tough in the first set with the conditions.”

Dominika Cibulkova advanced into the second-round on Monday as well. The seventh-seeded Slovak cruised past French qualifier Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 6-2 to push into the second-round.

Angelique Kerber, the fifth seed, fought back from a tough first set to beat Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.