Kerber cruises, Wozniacki wins
MELBOURNE: German second seed Angelique Kerber easily won the battle of left-handers against bighitting Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 6-3 to stroll into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.
The Wimbledon champion broke the 22-year-old Haddad Maia twice in the opening set and converted her first set point when the Brazilian sent a forehand wide for her 29th unforced error in the set.
Kerber, a triple Grand Slam champion who won in Melbourne in 2016, faced just one breakpoint in the match in the second set and converted her first opportunity in the eighth game to go 5-3 up and serve for the set.
“I think it was a good match from my side. I was trying to play aggressive from the first point until the last one, serving good, really focusing on the moment on court,” Kerber told reporters.
Kerber will next meet Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell, who earlier ousted 29th seeded Donna Vekic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, on Friday while also celebrating her 31st birthday.
Meanwhile, Sloane Stephens, who endured a horror run at Melbourne Park since reaching the semi-final in 2013, exiting in the first round in 2015, 2016 and 2018, swatted aside former doubles partner Timea Babos 6-3, 6-1.
MARIA VS WOZNIACKI
Former Australian Open winner Maria Sharapova continued her marauding form by handing out a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing to Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson on Wednesday to set up a blockbuster thirdround showdown with holder Caroline Wozniacki.
In a clash of former world number one players, the fivetimes Grand Slam winner will next meet Dane Wozniacki, who eased past Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-3 earlier in the day.
“It’s always a physical match,” Sharapova told reporters of her third-seeded opponent looming in the next round, with Wozniakci having won her first Grand Slam here last year.
“She gets a lot of balls back. A great retriever of the game. Just incredibly solid. Does a lot of things well. You kind of have to, to be number one in the world, to be a Grand Slam champion. I expect her to do all those things on Friday.
“I think the Grand Slam was the one trophy she was looking for. With determination she got there last year. She loves playing here, loves everything about this tournament. I certainly have a tough match ahead of me.”