TOKYO: Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki squeezed through to the second round of the Pan Pacific Open, just one day after ending a 13-month title drought in South Korea.
The Dane made hard work of beating Serb qualifier Bojana Jovanovski 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 in a match halted for an hour in the third set by lightning flashes and torrential rain.
Nine of the world’s top 10 women are competing in Tokyo this week at the $2.16 million event, with the leading eight seeds receiving byes into the second round.
Wozniacki, who captured the Korea Open on Sunday, powered through a first set played in a warm breeze before fatigue hit her in the second.
The heavens broke at 3-3 in the decider and Wozniacki, down 15-30, eventually dropped her serve after waiting for the roof to be closed and the waterlogged court to be mopped dry.
Normal service was quickly resumed, however, as the 10th seed took the next three games to wrap up victory in two hours 17 minutes after forcing Jovanovski into a wild backhand.
“I was very lucky the rain came at 3-3 in the third,” Wozniacki told reporters. “I was feeling tired and it gave me a little time to relax and get my body back together.” Serb Ana Ivanovic, another former world number one who is seeded 11th this week, progressed by beating Andrea Hlavackova 6-3, 2-0 when the Czech retired with a thigh injury.
Ivanovic, who reached the US Open quarterfinals earlier this month, said she still had the game to challenge for grand slam titles.
“That’s the only reason I’m still here,” Ivanovic said. “I already achieved two of my biggest dreams in winning a grand slam and being number one in the world.
“But I believe I can still be at the top level and winning grand slams,” added the Serb who topped the rankings after winning the 2008 French Open.
Ninth seed Marion Bartoli of France bundled out Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-1, 6-4 — just four days before the local favorite’s 42nd birthday. Wildcard Date-Krumm, who won the title in 1995, kicked an advertising board and left the court fuming at a boisterous fan, glaring back at the seats as she went to shake hands with Bartoli.
“I was told there was a drunk fan,” said the Japanese who shouted angrily in the direction of the spectator after netting a forehand while threatening a late fight back.
“You’re focusing so hard and it’s extremely disappointing when people who are supposed to be supporting you are drunk and shouting when you hit the ball.” Italy’s former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone squeezed past Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 to set up a second-round match with Australian Samantha Stosur.
Russia’s Nadia Petrova overpowered Peng Shuai 6-1, 6-4, ousting one of three Chinese taking part despite their country’s fierce political row with Japan over disputed islands.
Zheng Jie beat American Vania King 6-3, 6-4 while last year’s French Open champion Li Na opens her campaign against Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Tuesday.
Injured Melzer out
In Kuala Lumpur, eighth seed Jurgen Melzer was forced to retire from the Malaysian Open yesterday after picking up a thigh injury in the first round, meaning Vasek Pospisil, ranked 122 in the world, went through.
Melzer, 37 in the world rankings, was trailing 6-4, 2-0 when he called it a day at the ATP 250 tournament and did not speak to reporters after the match at the Putra Stadium on the outskirts of Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur.
Canadian Pospisil said he was “disappointed” his Austrian opponent was unable to finish the match but felt “confident” after the victory.
“I will enjoy the win but it is not how I wanted to win... If he had carried on and finished the game, I would have considered it the best win of my career and a good achievement,” Pospisil, who is looking to break into the top 100 by the end of the year, said.
It was unclear whether Melzer would be able to compete in a doubles match scheduled for today.
Monday’s first round also sprung an upset for Brian Baker, who lost 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to fellow American Michael Yani.
Baker, the world number 60, made a remarkable comeback in 2011 after six years out with multiple injuries and surgeries.
Yani, who ranks 238, will now meet Pospisil in the second round of the $947,750 tournament.
Malaysia’s challenge came to an end when Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam was knocked out by Dutchman Igor Sijsling 6-2, 6-1.
Taiwanese Jimmy Wang booked a date with world No. 11 and second seeded Juan Monaco after beating Italian Riccardo Ghedin 6-3, 6-3.
“I have not played Monaco before but I have watched him play a few times... It will be tough, but I think I can probably cause an upset,” Wang said.
Spain’s world No. 5 David Ferrer is the top seed in the competition, which ends on Sunday.
Rain break rescues Wozniacki in Tokyo
Rain break rescues Wozniacki in Tokyo
Dembele, PSG, Bonmati and Yamal score big at 16th Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai
- Cristiano Ronaldo, named Best Middle East Player, announced the launch of the first Globe Sports Award, presenting it to tennis star Novak Djokovic
- PSG, after the most successful season in their history, were named Best Men’s Club and Ousmane Dembele Best Men’s Player
DUBAI: Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmati were the major winners at the 16th Beyond Developments Globe Soccer Awards on Sunday night in Dubai.
During a ceremony at the Atlantis The Royal hotel, Paris Saint-Germain forward Dembele was crowned Best Men’s Player for the first time, and FC Barcelona midfielder Bonmati made history by being named Best Women’s Player for a third consecutive year.
Among more than 20 awards presented, French giants PSG, capping off an extraordinary year in which they won the UEFA Champions League and Super Cup, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France, were named Best Men’s Club.
Individual awards went to Luis Enrique (Best Coach), Vitinha (Best Midfielder), Desire Doue (Emerging Player), Luis Campos (Best Sporting Director), and Nasser Al-Khelaifi (Best President).
Dembele said on stage: “The first half of the season was a bit more difficult, but there was a lot of work being poured into what happened in the second half.
“You have to work hard always and continue at it. And then when the moments that were hard to beat arrived, I just kept at it and now find myself where I am now.”
As well as celebrating Bonmati’s honor, it was a big night for FC Barcelona as they won the Best Women’s Club trophy.
Barca’s 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, the Spain international, also secured a double with the Best Forward and Maradona awards.
“I don’t want to be compared to anybody, because people, like the legends like Cristiano, actually have made their own path, and that’s what I want to do.”
A highlight of the evening saw Cristiano Ronaldo announce, in partnership with Globe Soccer, the first Globe Sports Award. Ronaldo presented the award to tennis icon Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Al-Nassr and Portugal star Ronaldo, named the Best Middle East Player, said: “We have a similar story, so I think it’s deserved because you are a great example for this generation, the older generation, and the generation to come, so you deserve it.
“Football is our life, it’s my life. But for me, sport means more than only football. For me, this is a new era, so we have to open our minds for the other sports.
“This is why we create this amazing award, in my opinion, and because the world needs to see different things with huge quality.”
Djokovic said: “To be here tonight is a privilege and honor, obviously, receiving an award from another sporting legend is a dream come true. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this. I’m a big fan of football.
“I came here to obviously celebrate the incredible year that all of the football stars were having, and I was caught off guard, but in a positive way, so I couldn’t be happier.”
Career awards were presented to Spaniard Andres Iniesta, who scored the winning goal for his country in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final against the Netherlands, and former Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, a two-time AFC Player of the Year and Serie A winner with AS Roma.
In a tribute, a special award was presented to the parents of Diogo Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal forward who tragically died in a car accident alongside his younger brother Andre Silva in July.
During the invite-only event in Dubai, awards were presented to Jorge Mendes (Best Agent), Portugal (Best National Team), Paul Pogba (Comeback Award), Los Angeles Football Club (Best Club Branding).
In addition, awards went to Nicoletta Romanazzi (Best Mental Coach), Right to Dream (Best Academy), and Bilal Haddad (Koora Break Best Content Creator).
Nine core categories were decided by more than 30 million fan votes during two global voting windows: Best Men’s Player, Best Women’s Player, Best Men’s Club, Best Women’s Club, Best Coach, Best Midfielder, Best Forward, Emerging Player, and Best Middle East Player.
The final winners were then determined by a combination of fan votes and the Globe Soccer Jury, made up of Marcello Lippi, Francesco Totti, Iker Casillas, and Luis Figo.
Tommaso Bendoni, founder and CEO of Globe Soccer, said the awards “delivered an unforgettable celebration of football, bringing together the world’s greatest players, coaches, executives and legends in Dubai.
“The incredible engagement from fans, alongside the expertise of our distinguished jury, once again demonstrated the unique spirit of the Globe Soccer Awards.”
It was also a special night for Spain’s La Liga EA Sports as the country’s top-flight presented the winners of its 2024-2025 season awards. FC Barcelona trio Raphinha, Hansi Flick, and Yamal were named Best Player, Best Coach, and Best Emerging Player respectively.
The Best Goal award went to Real Sociedad midfielder Luka Sucic, while the Best Save award was presented to Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
