Wozniacki, Kerber advance at Wuhan
World No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki and Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber eased through their opening tennis matches at the Wuhan Open in China yesterday.
Australian Open champion Wozniacki, who received a first-round bye, was not troubled by the 61st-ranked Swede Rebecca Peterson, winning 6-4, 6-1 to set up a third-round clash with Olympic champion Monica Puig, who romped past Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2.
"It's great to get a good start... Every match counts," Wozniacki said.
"I'm just trying to keep my head down, keep focused and try to win as much as I can to get that (WTA Finals) spot."
World No. 3 Kerber has already qualified for next month's Finals in Singapore and advanced after a knee injury forced her American opponent Madison Keys to retire.
The German looked set for a big win over the 2017 US Open semi-finalist and was leading 6-0, 4-1 when Keys could not continue.
"I was feeling good. I played the first set really well," Kerber said.
"It's nice to be in the next round. The first rounds are... not easy. You have to find your rhythm."
Nine of the world's top 10 are at the Wuhan Open. US Open winner Naomi Osaka withdrew with an illness after losing the Pan Pacific Open final on Sunday.
Six spots at the WTA Finals remain up for grabs, with only world No. 1 and French Open champion Simona Halep and Kerber securing their places so far. - AFP
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