WTA roundup: Wozniacki breezes through grass-court opener of 2018

Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki had little trouble in her opener, while second-seeded Karolina Pliskova needed to put in work before advancing as the favorites moved on to the Round of 16 at the Nature Valley International at Eastbourne, England.

Playing in her first match on grass this season, the Danish Wozniacki topped Italian Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-3. The 2009 Nature Valley International champion needed just 76 minutes to advance to the third round in her first match since losing in the fourth round at the French Open.

“You need to get into the rhythm of the match, and it took me a few games, but then it felt really great to be back out here,” the world No. 2 said after the match. “She started off well. I didn’t get a first serve in on my first service game, and I was kind of in trouble. I was lucky to break her back to that 2-1 game, and then I kind of found my way into the match and started playing some good tennis.”

After being broken in her first service game, Wozniacki won six straight games to close out the first set. Overall, she committed just 11 unforced errors in the entire match and converted six of nine break points.

The reigning Australian Open champion will next face the winner of the match between Libéma Open winner Aleksandra Krunic and British No.1 and 13 seed Johanna Konta.

On the other half of the bracket, Pliskova booked the only other third-round spot secured thus far in the tournament, beginning her title defense with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 grinder against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia.

“It is tough to come in defending a title, but I was happy to get three sets on this court and a win today,” the world No. 7 said after the match.

The winner of the second-round match between Czech No.14 seed Barbora Strycova and Croatian Donna Vekic will face Pliskova in the third round.

2008 Nature Valley International champ Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland and 2016 champion Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia also won their openers, advancing to the second round.

–Field Level Media