Halep on Chinese roll, ensures top billing for Australian Open
World No 1 Simona Halep assured herself of top billing for the Australian Open after powering past local hope Duan Yingying and into the quarter-finals of the Shenzhen Open in China on Wednesday. Halep hit 21 winners and won five out of eight break points to prevail 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 and secure her No 1 ranking going into next week and top seeding for Melbourne ahead of Caroline Wozniacki and Garbine Muguruza.
RAONIC CRASHES OUT
Australian third seed Nick Kyrgios overcame a leg injury to reach the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International on Wednesday as fourth seed Milos Raonic was bundled out by wildcard Alex De Minaur.
Kyrgios came back from losing the first set to fellow Australian Matthew Ebden to win 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, finishing the match with his leg heavily strapped.
In the late match on Pat Rafter Arena, 18-year-old De Minaur had the biggest win of his career when he stunned former champion Raonic 6-4, 6-4.
WOZNIACKI ADVANCES
Caroline Wozniacki continued to build on her WTA Finals victory late last year with another impressive performance on her way to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Croatia’s Petra Martic to reach the quarter-finals of the Auckland Classic on Wednesday.
“I’m trying to stay aggressive,” Wozniacki said in a court-side interview. “I still made some unforced errors. It’s taking a few matches to play like 100 per cent but I still felt I played pretty well today.”
CORIC OUSTS BUSTA
Croatia’s Borna Coric turned around his poor form towards the end of 2017 with a stunning comeback win, saving three match points to oust second seed Pablo Carreno Busta 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(8) in 2 hours and 41 minutes in the opening round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday night.
The Spaniard served for the match twice and appeared to be on course for a win but some errors and tentative play allowed Coric to get back into the match.
SHENZHEN:
KERBER FIRES
BRISBANE: AUCKLAND: DOHA: