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Wozniacki defence up and running; Sharapova, Kerber cruise

tennis14 January 2019 09:58| © Reuters
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Caroline Wozniacki © Getty Images

Caroline Wozniacki launched her title defence at the Australian Open with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win against Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck in the first round.

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The third-seeded Dane broke Van Uytvanck once in each set and kept her unforced errors down to win the baseline battle in an hour and 33 minutes in the first match of the evening session at the Rod Laver Arena.

The 24-year-old Van Uytvanck, ranked 52, troubled Wozniacki with some well-disguised drop shots but did not have enough to register her maiden win at Melbourne Park in her fifth appearance in both singles and doubles.

Wozniacki, who is battling rheumatoid arthritis, sealed the match with a forehand winner on her third matchpoint and will next meet Sweden's Johanna Larsson, who progressed after Vera Lapko of Belarus retired while trailing 7-6(5) 3-0.

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SHARAPOVA DOLES OUT DOUBLE BAGEL

Former champion Maria Sharapova gave hapless Harriet Dart a 6-0 6-0 shellacking to fly into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday.

In the opening match on Rod Laver Arena's centre court, the 30th seed was all over the British qualifier from the first point, wrapping up the first set in 31 minutes in a barrage of power hitting.

Dart saved two match points to stall Sharapova's win but sprayed a clumsy volley wide to fall on the third.

Sharapova will play Swede Rebecca Peterson for a place in the third round.

CLINICAL KERBER

Second seed Angelique Kerber brushed past Slovenia's Polona Hercog 6-2, 6-2 to power into the second round.

The Wimbledon champion produced a clinical display to launch her campaign at Melbourne Park, where she won the title in 2016.

The gulf in class between Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam winner, and world number 92 Hercog was apparent as the German took an early break then rattled past her opponent in 72 minutes.

Kerber maintained constant pressure to snuff out any challenge from Hercog, saying she felt energised returning to Rod Laver Arena, where she won her first major three years ago.

"Every time I walk on this court I have great memories and such a special feeling, I really enjoy playing here," she said.

Kerber reached the semi-finals at the season-opening Grand Slam last year, blowing two match points before losing 9-7 in a tense last set to world number one Simona Halep.

She has played down expectations ahead of this year's tournament but displayed strong form reaching the quarter-finals of this month's Sydney International.

She is also one of the few players with a proven record in Grand Slam deciders against Serena Williams, defeating her in the 2016 final at Melbourne Park and last year at Wimbledon.

Additional reporting from AFP

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