Simona fires Australian Open warning with Shenzhen title

SHENZHEN: World No 1 Simona Halep fired a warning to her Australian Open rivals, beating Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 2-6, 6-0 to win the Shenzhen Open yesterday.

“We had a great match today. I tried everything to win... I just try to enjoy the moment even if it’s a little bit different indoors. It’s not easy but we did our job and I’m happy that I could win the first title of the year,” Simona said.

The 26-year-old Simona is guaranteed top seeding for the Australian Open, the season’s first Grand Slam, which begins in Melbourne on Jan 15.

z Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina laid down her marker as a serious contender for the Australian Open when she demolished Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-1 in the Brisbane International final yesterday.

Elina won five titles on the WTA tour last year, more than any other woman. She will go into the year’s first Grand Slam as the fourth seed.

Elina, who will rise 35 places in the world ranking to 53rd when the new rankings are released tomorrow, said her efforts in making the final had made her reevaluate her goals for Melbourne.

Meanwhile, controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios produced two sets of superb tennis to see off top seed Grigor Dimitrov and reach the final of the Brisbane International.

Kyrgios came back from losing the first set to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and set up a decider against American Ryan Harrison.

Harrison had earlier ended the fairytale run of 18-year-old wildcard Alex de Minaur 4-6, 7-6 (75), 6-4 in two hours and 37 minutes.

Kyrgios will be the overwhelming favourite to win his fourth title when he takes on Harrison.

The two players have some history between them, going back to 2015 when in a match against Stan Wawrinka, Kyrgios told the Swiss star that fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis had slept with his girlfriend.

A week later Harrison and Kokkinakis had to be separated by officials during a fiery match, with Harrison reportedly saying “Wawrinka should’ve decked Kyrgios and I should deck that kid.”

z Top seed Caroline Wozniacki survived an early scare to join Julia Goerges in the WTA Auckland Classic final after an exhausting day involving the quarter and semi-finals.

While second-seed Julia progressed comfortably, winning both her matches in straight sets, Caroline found heself a set down in her quarter-final against 19-year-old Sofia Kenin.

But the Dane regrouped to beat Sofia 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 then overcame another patchy start to beat Sachia Vickery 6-4, 6-4 in the semis.

“I’m exhausted,” the 27-yearold Caroline said after spending a total of nearly five hours on court. “It’s a tough start to the season coming out here and playing three sets this morning and then two tough sets now. I’m not 17 any more, I can feel that for sure.”

The incessant rain that washed out play on the previous two days abated to occasional showers that left enough time to allow the two rounds to be completed.

Today’s final will be the 10th meeting between Julia and Caroline with the German holding a 5-4 lead. Agencies