KUALA LUMPUR: Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki atoned for a first-round exit last year by cruising past China's Wang Yafan on Tuesday at the WTA Malaysian Open.
For the second straight year, Wozniacki opened the tournament against an unseeded Chinese challenger who had to go through qualifying to make the tournament, but the outcome was different this time.
The Danish world number five dropped just four points in defeating Wang 6-3, 6-1.
A year ago she was bundled out in three sets by qualifier Wang Qiang in the first round.
Her title chances got a further boost Tuesday with third-seeded Australian Casey Dellacqua's early exit at the hands of Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei, who won 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
Otherwise, seeded competitors advanced in Kuala Lumpur, with Austrian fourth-seed Jarmila Gajdosova beating Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey 7-5, 6-4.
"Buyukakcay played really well today and she had a solid game," said Gajdosova.
"I hit a lot of balls back to make her run and I attacked her serve whenever I could as I was bent on playing aggressively to stay ahead."
Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic got past Patricia Mayr-Achleitner of Austria in straight sets while Germany's Julia Goerges did the same against Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia.
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