Tennis News

DOHA, Qatar – Caroline Wozniacki survived a late wobble on Monday evening to edge past Ana Konjuh and into the second round of the Qatar Total Open.

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Success has proven hard to come by for Wozniacki this year, and getting over the finishing line against a hungry young opponent proved anything but straightforward.

Having weathered an early storm, the former World No.1, appeared to be cruising towards victory at 5-2 in the final set. However, liberated by the apparent hopelessness of the situation, Konjuh started to swing from the hip, clawing her way back level before eventually succumbing, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

By the time one of her thumping forehands finally found the tape, the Croatian had saved eight match points and put Wozniacki and her camp through the emotional wringer.

“It’s the first match and you just want to get going,” Wozniacki said in her on-court interview. “I wasn’t hitting it well, and she was, but then I was 5-2 up in the third set. But I thought we’d give the crowd a little bit more excitement!”

After a sluggish start, the Dane tightened things up in the second set – in which she coughed up just four unforced errors – to turn the tide. She admitted that a faster start will be required next time out, when she takes on Daria Gavrilova, an impressive 6-1, 6-1 winner over Misaki Doi.

“Hopefully the next match is going to be better and I’ll get a better start,” Wozniacki said. “I’ve practiced with her a couple of times, but I’ve never played against her in a match.

“Yeah, she’s a fighter. She likes to come with a lot of different shots out there and she’s going to have you play that extra point.”

In the preceding match, Roberta Vinci celebrated her first day as a member of the Top 10 with a near-faultless 6-2, 6-1 victory over Lesia Tsurenko. Also advancing was her fellow Italian, Sara Errani, a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 winner over Tsvetana Pironkova.

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Elena Vesnina has the potential to make it into the singles Top 10, says Svetlana Kuznetsova – the woman she beat in an epic final at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday.

“Why not? Of course, I mean, she did semis in Wimbledon last year. She won here now. She has to be much more consistent to be in the top 10, but she can make it, for sure,” said the defeated Russian of her compatriot.

.@SvetlanaK27 is moving up a gear! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/QO5bthevKE

— WTA (@WTA) March 19, 2017

Kuznetsova admitted that she had struggled with the daytime conditions, and felt rather frustrated that she had not played as well as she could.

“I didn’t feel comfortable at all today on the court,” said the 31-year-old. “I was trying to do the best I could, you know, but this is the type of day when you don’t play your best tennis and you’ve got to still give your best effort.

“I tried my best and she won because she was more aggressive than I did. I was too passive. That’s it. Too much behind and didn’t serve well, I think it was key points.”

Kuznetsova now moves on to Miami – and is confident that she can recover quickly from the loss to her countrywoman.

“I feel great,” she assured reporters in her post-match press conference. “I didn’t overwork. I think what really is difficult to handle, like, lots of stress. It’s, like, kind of waste you physically a little bit. But the rest matches didn’t get me so much tired. I feel great physically.

“I’m looking forward to have couple days off and hopefully get a good start in Miami.”