Caroline Wozniacki defeats Daniela Hantuchova in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open
World number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark carried on her superb form to outplay the 29th seed Slovak, Daniela Hantuchova in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open at Miami, Florida on Saturday night.
Wozniacki’s powerful serve was once again the key feature in her victory. She had an impressive 79 per cent first serve accuracy and just conceded one double fault in the game. The world number one registered her 20th win
of the running WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) season, extending her head-to-head lead against Hantuchova to 3-0.
The Dane ignited the opening set with her typical aggression, belting some elegant winners down the line to exert pressure upon her opponent. Wozniacki crafted six break chances in the first set and converted three of them to her
advantage.
She delivered 75 per cent of her first serve on target and secured 29 out of total 44 points in the first set. Hantuchova won merely one game in the opener, when she broke the top seed but dropped her serve in every serve game
to lose the first set at 1-6.
The Slovak proved far better in the next set of the contest, holding her serve in the opening five games. Hantuchova had a double-break point at 4-3 but was denied by the brilliance of the world number one who reeled off four straight
points to level the scores at 4-4. Wozniacki had two break chances after fighting six deuces at 5-5 but she frittered away both opportunities. Her Slovak opponent crafted two set points in the very next game at 6-5, yet again to be denied by the top seed.
Wozniacki finally held her serve to drag the second set into the decisive tie breaker round.
The Dane had a quick start to the tie breaker, winning opening three points but the Slovak clinched five straight points to get in the 5-3 lead. Hantuchova lost a set point at 6-5 and the world number one took the initiative to
conclude the contest at 7-6(6), moving on to the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open.
Wozniacki will take on the 21st seed German, Andrea Petkovic in the fourth round of the tournament. Petkovic ousted Iveta Benasova of Czech Republic in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3, in the third round at Miami.
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