DOHA, Qatar - World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki dropped just two games in an impressive opening match against Carina Witthoeft at the Qatar Total Open.
The Australian Open champion put together a dominant performance and needed just 57 minutes to record the 6-2, 6-0 victory.
Coming off of a quarterfinal finish at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, Wozniacki kept up her winning momentum against her young German opponent. The 22-year-old Witthoeft was billed a rising star after reaching the third round at all four Grand Slams and came into the matchup seeking her first win against a Top 10 opponent.
It was no easy feat against the World No.1, who got off to a fast start with an opening break to lead 2-0. Witthoeft did well to hang in the rallies against Wozniacki, breaking straight back, but Wozniacki’s level rose the longer they played. She reeled off the last four of five games, out hitting the German - especially off her favored backhand wing.
Fully dialed in during the second set, Wozniacki reeled off six games in a row to finish the match in commanding fashion. Even though a furry friend paid a visit to the court just as Wozniacki held her first match points, she stayed focused to seal the first victory of her Qatar Total Open campaign in just 58 minutes.
Wozniacki played a positive game and stayed aggressive, hitting 18 winners and 12 unforced errors to Witthoeft’s 10 and 21. She converted half of the 12 break chances she created and only dropped serve once in the two sets.
.@CaroWozniacki wraps up the first set 6-2! #QatarTennis pic.twitter.com/KZ8Gvh6Aat
— WTA (@WTA) February 14, 2018
A tricky next opponent in either No.14 seed Magdalena Rybarikova or Monica Niculescu awaits Wozniacki in the third round.
“I've played both players quite a few times,” Wozniacki said. “I've played Rybarikova in Australia and Niculescu I had a crazy match against her in Madrid. So you know, you know what to expect, but at the same time you don't know what to expect.
“It's kind of a funny match to go out there to, and I'm just going to go out there and try and stay aggressive like I did today.”
World No. 1 @CaroWozniacki cruises past Witthoeft, 6-2, 6-0. #QatarTennis pic.twitter.com/fggFbUUdQF
— WTA (@WTA) February 14, 2018