Sharapova, Wozniacki Cruise in Season Openers
Playing in neighboring countries, both Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki began their 2015 seasons on Tuesday. Although one was in Brisbane, Australia and the other was in Auckland, New Zealand, both rolled over their respective opponents with convincing straight-set victories.
Sharapova is the top seed at the Brisbane International this week, and started her run with a 6-0, 6-1 rout of Kazakhstan qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova. This one never really stood a chance as Sharapova captured the opening set in 23 minutes and led 3-0 in the second before Shvedova got her lone game of the match by holding serve.
“It certainly felt good to start, after not playing a match for a couple of months,” said Sharapova. “I wanted to start off sharp and try to do the right things … and I think I did a good job of that. There were moments where I saved a few important break points, which was crucial. That gave me good confidence.”
The second-ranked player in the world now pushes into the quarterfinals of Brisbane, and will take on the winner of the match between Maria Lucic-Baroni and Carla Suarez Navarro.
Also in Brisbane on Tuesday, American Varvara Lepchenko knocked off fellow American Madison Keys 6-4, 6-4 to move into the quarters.
Over in Auckland, top-seeded Wozniacki won her 2015 opener with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Israel’s Julia Glushko in the first-round of the ASB Classic. The Dane won five of her 10 break point opportunities and took advantage of six doubles-faults from Glushko.
“Maybe it wasn’t the prettiest match, but I got through and I won it,” said Wozniacki. “The first match is always tough. I served well, but I want to keep playing better as the week goes on.”
Wozniacki will meet American Taylor Townsend in the second-round. Townsend, a wild card entry into the tournament, knocked off Yanina Wickmayer in the first-round Monday. Seventh-seeded American Coco Vandeweghe pushed into the next round with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 comeback victory over Italy’s Roberta Vinci.
Venus Williams enjoyed a fast start to her 2015 season as the third-seeded American rolled past Jana Cepelova 6-1, 6-0 to advance at the ASB Classic. The American fired 10 aces and needed just 52 minutes to get past Cepelova.
“I felt very welcome when I came back on the court today—it was like I picked up where I left off last year,” said Williams, who was the runner up at this event last year. “The fans appreciate every point here. They’re very appreciative of all the effort the players give. And that feels good when you don’t hit the best shot out there.
But it went well for me today. To get to the final, I’ll have to play five days in a row, so I definitely don’t want to play super long matches. It’s much easier on me to play shorter matches like this.”
Her younger sister did not see the same success at the Hopman Cup on Tuesday. A day after needed a coffee break to wake her up, Serena Williams dropped a straight-set match to Canadian Eugenie Bouchard at the mixed doubles tournament.
Bouchard beat Williams 6-2, 6-1in convincing fashion. The United States lost its Group A match to Canada after Williams’ partner, John Isner, fell to Vasek Pospisil 3-6, 6-7(4).
The United States is now 1-1 in group play at the Hopman Cup.
In other action, second-seeded Petra Kvitova routed Bojana Jovanovski 6-1, 6-2 to move on at the Shenzhen Open.
