SYDNEY: The Sydney International continued to be a graveyard for some of the top names in women’s tennis with champion and top seed Agnieszka Radwanska and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki both losing in the second round on Tuesday.
Men’s champion Bernard Tomic, however, followed up the exploits of fellow Australian Marko Matosevic, who earlier beat Florian Mayer 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, to demolish eighth seed Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-0 in just under an hour.
Radwanska and Wozniacki followed grand slam champions Svetlana Kuznetsova and Francesca Schiavone and former world number one Jelena Jankvoic as early evictees from the tournament.
Radwanska’s title defence lasted just 92 minutes when she was dumped out 7-5, 6-2 by qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands, while Wozniacki, who struggled in her first round match on Monday, was beaten 6-4, 7-6 (7) by Lucie Safarova.
World number five Radwanska had won the Sydney title last year as part of a 13-match unbeaten streak that ended in the Australian Open quarterfinals said she was not overly concerned with her early loss.
Mattek-Sands will now face fellow American Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.
Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will play Safarova in the quarters after the second seed smashed qualifier Christina McHale 6-1, 6-0 in a little over an hour.
Wozniacki, who missed the Brisbane tournament last week with a sore shoulder, said she was feeling fine on Tuesday but had failed to win the crucial points in the clash against Safarova.
“I felt like it was pretty good today. It was small things that I didn’t win,” the Dane said.
“I don’t feel anything in my shoulder anymore. It’s great. I’ve felt good for the last few days.
“I played two matches here then I get a few days over there (Melbourne) and get to play a few sets as well with some of the girls and with different types players.
“I should be ready for Melbourne.”
Lleyton Hewitt took a different approach to being ready for the Australian Open by withdrawing from the invitational Kooyong Classic tournament in Melbourne.
The 32-year-old caused a major upset at the Brisbane International defeating Roger Federer in the final on Sunday and he said he felt he would need the week off to recover properly for the season-opening grand slam.
“At the moment it’s just all about recovery for me,” Hewitt told reporters on Tuesday. “When you get older it gets a bit tougher than when you were 16.
“We’re going into the first major and you’ve got to do what’s absolutely right for you.”
His place in the eight-man field will be taken by Jordan Thompson, who will play world number nine Richard Gasquet in their first matches on Wednesday. World number eight Tomas Berdych opens the tournament against Fernando Verdasco.
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi recorded their first win after re-joining forces as they overcame a spirited challenge from Jean-Julien Roger and Horia Tecau in the first round.
The third seeded Indo-Pak pair recorded a hard-fought 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 10-3 win over the unseeded Dutch-Romanian team.
They next face Treat Huey and Dominic Inglot, who ousted Pablo Andujar and David Marrero 6-4, 6-3 in their opening round match.
Verdasco’s compatriot David Ferrer was given a traditional Maori welcome at the Auckland Open on Tuesday in recognition of his contribution to the tournament.
Ferrer will be making his 10th appearance at the tournament, having won four titles, including the last three in succession.
“Thank you very much for everything,” the world number three told the packed crowd at the Auckland Tennis Centre after being presented with a manaia (Maori carving).
Ferrer will meet qualifier Donald Young in the second round on Wednesday after the American beat Federico Delbonis 7-5, 6-2.
Former champion Philipp Kohlschreiber also advanced to the second round with a tough 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Pablo Carreno Busta. (Reuters)
