Dominika Cibulkova and Caroline Wozniacki win in Sydney International openers
Slovakia’s world number six beats Germany’s world number 31 Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-0, while Danish former world number one downs Olympic champion and last year’s finalist Monica Puig 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win.
Slovakia’s world number six Dominika Cibulkova dropped just two games in blistering heat to win her opening match at the Sydney International on Monday.
The diminutive Cibulkova, who upset world number one Angelique Kerber to win the WTA finals in Singapore last October, swept past Germany’s world number 31 Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-0.
Cibulkova, who lost to China’s Li Na in the 2014 Australian Open final, will next play Canadian wild card Eugenie Bouchard in the second round of the WTA lead-in tournament to next week’s Australian Open.
“When you start a season, you always start with some confidence, not doubt, but you always need to get into this match rhythm,” said Cibulkova.
Dominika @Cibulkova downs Siegemund 6-2, 6-0!
Sets @SydneyTennis Second round vs @GenieBouchard! pic.twitter.com/n8EXfVHKXo— WTA (@WTA) January 9, 2017
“It’s not easy if I would expect myself to play like I did in the [WTA] final against Kerber, I think that would be too much expectation.