World number one Caroline Wozniacki took her place in the French Open third round by edging Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in an entertaining encounter on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Dane, who reached the Roland Garros quarter-finals last year but is yet to win a Grand Slam, will face either Slovakian 28th seed Daniela Hantuchova or Italy’s Sara Errani in the last 32.
After an early exchange of breaks of serve on court Philippe Chatrier, Wozniacki broke for a 3-1 lead when a back-tracking Wozniak dug a forehand into the net from just inside the baseline.
A well-contested opening set featuring plenty of long rallies witnessed another break apiece before the Dane closed out the set, saving a break point at 5-3 up and then watching as a looping forehand from Wozniak landed long.
Wozniak, the world number 162, saved three breaks points in a closely fought second set and came close to bringing up a set point at 6-5 up, only for a backhand winner to be called narrowly out.
Wozniacki emitted a scream after netting a simple smash to put Wozniak 4-2 up in the tie-break and then drew jeers from the crowd by disputing a line call after a lob was called long, which handed her opponent three set points.
The interruption galvanised the top seed, however, and she battled back to 6-6, before claiming the match on her first match point with a running backhand that Wozniak could only volley into the net. — AFP