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| Caroline Wozniacki © Gallo Images |
Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki took 43 minutes to win her
first-round match at the Pilot Pen in New Haven, Connecticut, then credited boxing with
helping her score the quick knockout on Tuesday.
The second-seeded Wozniacki dominated Edina Gallovits of Romania
6-0, 6-0, winning 20 of the final 21 points in a 19-minute first
set before taking 24 minutes to finish off Gallovits.
The Danish star, ranked No 9 in the world, said her speed and
fitness level began improving just after Wimbledon, when friend and
super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler suggested she take up
boxing.
"You run a lot," she said. "You get strength in your stomach,
your back, your shoulders, your arms, all the things that you also
need in tennis."
So far, Wozniacki has hit mostly bags, sparring just once with
her coach - and apologising after she punched him.
"He started yelling at me, 'Why are you saying sorry? It's what
the game is about. You have to hit me,"' she said. "It's just fun
to get some aggression out some times."
While Wozniacki barely worked up a sweat, Samantha Stosur needed
almost three hours to beat Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in
32-degree Celsius heat. The Australian ended up losing the first set
after nearly 90 minutes, but won 6-7 (8), 6-2, 6-4.
"It was a bit of a battle out there," Stosur said. "I got
through the second set pretty quick and then started to feel better
about things. The third was pretty tight. I was pleased with the
way I was able to get out of it and come back from a set down."
Amelie Mauresmo, a finalist four years ago, advanced with her
first win over Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine in three attempts at
6-1, 6-1, sixth-seeded Marion Bartoli defeated Maria Jose Martinez
Sanchez of Spain 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, and third-seeded Flavia Pennetta
had a much easier time, defeating Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania
6-1, 6-2.
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