Caroline Wozniacki cruised past wild card McCartney Kessler 6-0 6-1 in just 61 minutes at the Credit One Charleston Open to achieve her first win on clay courts since her most recent appearance in Charleston in 2019, when she reached the third of her three finals at this tournament.
Wozniacki beat Elena Vesnina in the Charleston in 2011 and finished runner-up to Sabine Lisicki in 2009 and Madison Keys in 2019.
Wozniacki set up a second round match against Anhelina Kalinina. It will be the re-match of their second round match in Miami, where Kalinina saved a match point to beat Wozniacki 5-7 7-5 6-4.
Kessler improved from number 825 this time last year to her current number 122 spot. She won her first WTA 125 title in Puerto Vallarta last February.
Wozniacki did not allow Kessler to hold serve once and broke Kessler three times in each of the two sets. Kessler missed two points in each of her first two service games.
Wozniacki fired 18 winners to 13 unforced errors and won 10 all ten of her net points. Kessler committed 20 unforced errors to only four winners.
Amanda Anisimova cruised past Alize Cornet 6-3 6-0 in a match between two past Charleston semifinalists.
Anisimova converted her fifth break point in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. The 2022 Charleston semifinalist won the last ten games to seal the win in 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Anisimova saved all of the four of the break points she faced and finished the match with 35 winners to 10 unforced errors.
Anisimova set up a second round match against number 2 seed Jessica Pegula.
Anisimova reached the Round of 16 at the Australian Open for the third time in her career last January.
