Caroline Wozniacki handled herself nicely in her opening round match at the Qatar Total Open Wednesday night. The world ranking number one player took care of Germany’s Carina Witthoeft winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 on Centre Court at the Khalifa International Tennis Centre.
It was the second meeting for the two and the first in three years since Wozniacki beat the German in straight sets in Malaysia. The Dane went into St. Petersburg with a chance to increase her points amount ahead of Simona Halep sitting in second. While she only managed to get to the quarterfinals, the 27 year old had her eyes set on redeeming last season where she lost in the finals. Witthoeft handled her countrywoman Maria in straight sets as well blanking the world number 57 in the second set. While the bar was set high for her to pull off an upset, the 22 year would try to be a competitive force to challenge the world number one.
Both opened the first set with service holds that soon saw Wozniacki dominating early. She took a 4-1 lead before Witthoeft got another under her belt. It was the last one she saw as Wozniacki ran away winning the next two games to put the set in the books in 35 minutes. Wozniacki held the offense together serving 67 percent despite having three double faults. It was the second serve of her opponent that barely produced two points that allowed her to coast.
The second set didn’t get any better for the German as she watched Wozniacki dictate from start to finish. The top seed maintained her serve percentage landing 9 of 12 from the first and four of six on her second. Witthoeft struggled on both ends of the offense to fall flat and go down in just 32 minutes earning the bagel. With a swift finish to her start of the tournament, Wozniacki would find herself facing the winner between Monica Niculescu and Magdalena Rybarikova on Thursday.
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