Women Tennis Update – Hong Kong, New York, Indian Wells

Written by: Staff on 5th March 2013

Women Tennis Update - Hong Kong, New York, Indian Wells

epa03595793 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns the ball to Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova during their semi final match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 22 February 2013. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

Hong Kong and New York

The slump continued for Caroline Wozniacki as the one-time WTA No. 1 lost a World Tennis Day exhibition to substitute opponent Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-4 in Hong Kong. Wozniacki was fresh off one for the worst defeats of her career the week before in Kuala Lumpur where she went down to China’s No. 172 Wang Qiang in the first round. The little-known Asian took the place of celebrated compatriot Li Na, who has not played since the Australian Open final due to an ankle injury and who is also missing the Indian Wells Masters starting this week.

Both Wozniacki and Radwanska were flying the Pacific to reach California for the Indian Wells which begins at mid-week. “Playing against a good friend, you pretty much know what to expect, but at the same time you’re out there on the court and you just want to win,” said Wozniacki, whose recent form has been the subject of speculation that all may not be well between herself and golfing boyfriend Rory McIlroy. “Once you’re on the court it’s a fight, you fight for your life basically, and when you’re off the court again you’re friends again.”

In the New York edition of the tennis celebrations, injury victims Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka played an exho which the American won 6-4, 6-3. The pair were on court less than a fortnight after stiffing the Dubai tournament with late injury pullouts which crushed the week’s lineup.

Indian Wells

German Andre Petkovic took her first tentative steps in yet another tennis comeback as for former top 10 player advanced at qualifying in first-round play. Petkovic, who hurt her knee in the early days of 2013 in Perth and had to undergo surgery, is trying to get back in the mix. She started with a 6-0, 6-2 defeat of Kazakh Yulia Putintseva. Petko next faces Monica Puig.

Topics: Agnieszka Radwanska, Caroline Wozniacki, Hong Kong tennis news, Kuala Lumpur, Li Na, Petkovic, Sports, Tennis News, Wang Qiang, World Tennis Day, WTA tennis news