Top seed Caroline Wozniacki has vowed to maintain an aggressive approach to her game following her latest one-sided win at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The Dane required less than an hour to dismiss Croatia’s Petra Martic 6-2, 6-2, in the second round of the tournament. Wozniacki was broken just once in the match at the start of the second set as she claimed 89% of her first service points. A significant mark compared to Martic’s 54%. Overall, she produced a total of 21 winners compared to only eight unforced errors.
“A couple mistakes here and there but, all in all, I can be pretty happy with my performance – especially because she’s an aggressive player and serves big, but I managed to serve well and get a lot of returns,” Wozniacki said after the match.
“I’m building on my game all the time – I still have a little time before Melbourne (the Australian Open) so hopefully I can get some more matches here.
“I love to compete, to be out there and playing for something.”
Continuing to carry the momentum she gained from winning the WTA Finals last year, Wozniacki is set to rise to world No.2 next week. Her highest ranking position since 2012. She has clinched the spot following Garbine Muguruza’s retirement in Brisbane. There is also a outside chance that the Dane could return to world No.1. For that to happen, Simona Halep needs to lose her quarter-final match in Shenzhen and Wozniacki must win the Auckland tournament.
Please with the current state of her game, the Dane admits that that there is still room for further improvement. With the focus being on staying aggressive during matches.
“I’m trying to stay aggressive,” she said. “I still made some unforced errors. It’s taking a few matches to play like 100 percent but I still felt I played pretty well today.”
Wozniacki will next take on America’s Sofia Kenin, who defeated compatriot Varvara Lepchenko Kenin won 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) earlier on Wednesday.
Georges Eases Through
German second seed Julia Georges also posted a convincing win in her second round encounter. Taking on Slovakia qualifier Viktória Kužmová, Georges eased her way to a 6-4, 6-0, victory. Hitting 31 winners compared to only nine unforced errors. Georges also claimed 91% of her first service points during the 65-minute clash.
“I’m very happy. I served pretty well today and that helped me in a lot of moments (during the match).” Said Georges.
“I’m just glad to be in another quarter-final here (in Auckland).”
Georges is now on a 11-match winning streak after ending 2017 by claiming titles in Moscow and Zhuhai. Awaiting her in the last eight will be Polona Hercog. Hercog dismissed Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-2.
Barbora Strýcová also moved into the quarter-finals. The Czech required almost two-and-a-half hours to defeat Sweden’s Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-2. She will next take on Hsieh Su-wei.
