Wozniacki begins Dubai title defence with victory

By Bill Scott Feb 22, 2012, 18:49 GMT

Dubai - Caroline Wozniacki began her title defence at the Dubai Championships on Wednesday as she beat streaky Romanian Simona Halep 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals for a showdown with fellow ex-number one Ana Ivanovic.

Woznaicki, who lost early a week in a Doha disappointment, was on form against Halep, winning seven games on the trot through to a 3-0 lead in the second set. Four breaks of serve followed before the Danish third seed put her stamp on the evening.

'I'm so happy to be back, winning here last year brings good memories,' said Wozniacki, who lost the top WTA ranking when Victoria Azarenka won the Australian Open. 'I played some good tennis against a tough player.

Serbia's Ivanovic, who ruled the rankings after winning the French Open four years ago, advanced over Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

'Caroline and I haven't played in a while (October, 2010 in Beijing the seek that Wozniack took over the top ranking). But I'm always looking forward to challenge,' said Ivanovic.

Current number one Azarenka withdrew with a bruised ankle bone, with the top seed from Belarus said she hopes to be fit for the Indian Wells event in a fortnight.

'Last week (in Doha), it already hurt in the semi-final. In the final I tried to do everything to be able to play. It took a lot of sacrifice by taking a lot painkillers, but apparently didn't get better,' Azarenka said.

'I had to adjust my movement, compromise in other parts of my body which started it hurt, and it's just too much of a risk. I have a bone bruise, so every time I put pressure on it's just painful. It just has to get a rest and heal.'

Azaranka's withdrawal extends a run of hard luck for the event, which lost second seed and Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova due to a virus. French Open champion Li Na of China, pulled out before the start, and so did Russian Vera Zvonareva, who did not finish her two previous tournaments due to a hip injury.

Fourth-seeded US Open champion Samantha Stosur overcame a second-set lapse to put out Czech Lucie Safarova 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1. She will next face Jelena Jankovic of Sebia, a winner over Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-2.

Stosur was pleased to have made a late recovery.

'I served really well but in that second set I lost it, and I don't think I did really that much wrong,' she said. 'I wasn't able to take my opportunities, but then I did so early in the third.'

Number five Agnieszka Radwanska beat Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-4 while Daniela Hantuchova stopped China's Peng Shuai 7-5, 6-2.

Two Germans reached the last eight with Julia Goerges beating lucky loser Casey Dellacqua 6-0, 6-2 and Sabine Lisicki stopping Czech Iveta Benesova 6-3, 6-3.

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