Caroline Wozniacki. Photo / Photosport
Caroline Wozniacki has become the only seed to progress comfortably through to the second round at the ASB Classic, putting on a masterclass to thrash Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-0.
Of the eight seeds, four were eliminated, while Agnieszka Radwanska, Barbora Strycova and Julia Goerges all required three sets to advance.
There were no such problems for Wozniacki, who had breezed past Brengle; who last year defeated Serena Williams on her way to the quarter-finals.
Wozniacki required just 57 minutes to progress, with the Danish star displaying excellent court movement and precise positioning to finish off points.
In the second set, she added power to the precision, hitting some exquisite winners to book a clash with Croatian Petra Martic tomorrow afternoon.
"I thought I played pretty well, especially considering it is the first match back of the year," said Wozniacki. "It took me a couple of games to get the rhythm, and then I started playing better and better.
"I was trying to get my legs moving, trying to make the right decisions, waiting for the right shots to actually ... go for it."
The recently engaged Wozniacki has given off a relaxed, confident vibe since arriving in Auckland, epitomised by the fact she hadn't checked who she would face in the second round today.
"I actually didn't see the draw so I didn't know who I was playing," laughed Wozniacki.
Wozniacki has won all three of her previous games against Martic, though the pair haven't met since 2012.
7.25pm: Agnieszka Radwanska has survived a scare at the ASB Classic, holding on to defeat Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
The fourth seed had a few sloppy moments, but Haddad Maia also played strongly, and made Radwanska battle to the end.
Haddad Maia had a chance to make a sizeable mark on the tournament when breaking Radwanska's serve to lead 2-1 in the final set, but the 2013 ASB Classic champion kept her perfect record at the tournament alive by reeling off five consecutive games to progress to the second round.
Just two matches remain on the docket for the night, with Caroline Wozniacki up next against Madison Brengle, before Kiwi wildcard Jade Lewis plays Slovakian qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova.
6.50pm: Another seed is fighting for survival at the ASB Classic, with Agnieszka Radwanska being taken to a third set by Beatriz Haddad Maia.
The world number 71 played an excellent second set, breaking Radwanska's serve on multiple ocassions and holding off a fightback to win the set 6-4.
The 21-year-old Brazilian looks comfortable on court, and if she can cut back on a few unforced errors, she could cause yet another first round upset.
Elsewhere, Polona Hercog is into the second round, beating Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4, 7-5.
6.00pm: Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska is showing strong early signs at the ASB Classic, cruising through the first set against Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Radwanska took the first set 6-2 in half an hour, with her strong first serve a key weapon.
The Pole took 82 per cent of points on her first serve, and while Haddad Maia showed some decent touches, she wasn't in the same class as the 2013 champion.
On the outside court, Polona Hercog has taken the first set against Alison Van Uytvanck, 6-4, while the Kiwi doubles combination of Paige Hourigan and Erin Routliffe fell to a 6-2 2-6, 10-5 first round defeat.
5.10pm: Third seed Barbora Strycova has avoided the fate of her fellow high seeds at the ASB Classic.
Before her victory, all three seeds had fallen on day two, but Strycova broke the cycle, advancing to the second round with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 victory over Sara Errani.
It took three hours on centre court for Strycova to break through a battling effort from Errani, who was Strycova's equal until the final game, where she was broken to love to send Strycova through to the second round.
On the outside courts, Taylor Townsend came back to beat Christina McHale 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, while Johanna Larsson beat Kurumi Nara 7-6, 6-3.
The next game on centre court sees fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska take on Beatriz Haddad Maia.
4.10pm: Third seed Barbora Strycova is in a battle at the ASB Classic.
All three seeds to play on day two have lost, and Strycova is also in some danger, after losing the second set 7-6 against Sara Errani.
Strycova had a chance to serve for the match, but Errani broke back to level at 5-5, and had the better of the tiebreaker, winning it 7-3.
The game is the feistiest encounter on centre court so far, with both players extremely competitive, and displaying their frustration and elation on court.
On the outside courts, Christina McHale has comfortably taken the first set over Taylor Townsend, 6-1, while Johanna Larsson took the first set against Kurumi Nara, 7-6.
3.00pm: Three seeds have gone on the second day of the ASB Classic, with defending champion Lauren Davis the most prominent casualty.
Davis was invincible last year – beating four higher-ranked players on the way to the title, but fell at the first hurdle on Tuesday.
Sixth seed Yulia Putinseva is also out – beaten 6-3 6-3 by Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure on an outside court.
Earlier in the day German seventh seed Mona Barthel fell to experienced American Varvara Lepchenko.
Errani drops first set
Sara Errani is currently ranked at 132 in the world – but it's a false marker.
The 30-year-old Italian has been as high as No 5 in the world, and has nine singles titles to her name.
She also reached the 2012 French Open final, and has made the last four at two other grand slam tournaments, where she lost to Serena Williams on both occasions.
But she served a two month doping ban last year, which saw her ranking fall into the hundreds and she needed a wildcard to play in this tournament.
Regular Auckland visitor Barbora Strycova – who reached the semi-finals here in 2015, losing to Caroline Wozniacki – made the stronger start.
The World No 23 acclerated to a 4-1 lead, with her typical mix of touch play and clever angles. Errani fought back, grabbing a break , but the 31-year-old wrapped up the set with a clean ace around the 45 minute mark
1.45pm: Defending champion Lauren Davis has failed at the first hurdle at the ASB Classic.
The 24-year-old American went on a magical run in 2017 to capture her first WTA Tour title in Auckland, but she couldn't find that level to begin the 2018 season.
This year, Davis' tournament only lasted 63 minutes, as she was emphatically swatted 6-1, 6-2 by compatriot Sachia Vickery.
Davis' serve let her down, holding serve just twice in the encounter, and winning just 41 per cent of points on serve, including only three points on second serve.
Davis' defeat means she will not join an exclusive club of back-to-back ASB Classic winners, with only two women – Patty Fendick and Eleni Daniilidou – having triumphed twice in succession.
Vickery, 22, progressed through qualifying without losing a set, and will be a good shout to progress further. She will play an unseeded opponent in the second round, going up against the winner of the clash between Veronica Cepede Royg and Lara Arruabarrena.
That match is currently underway on an outside court, while next up on centre court third seed Barbora Strycova takes on Sara Errani.
1.15pm: Defending champion Lauren Davis is in trouble at the ASB Classic.
The American has lost the first set of her first round clash against compatriot Sachia Vickery, going down 6-1 in just 32 minutes
Vickery impressed coming through qualifying, winning all three matches without losing a set, and she continued that form against Davis on centre court.
Vickery took the first four games of the set with impressive control of baselines rallies, and while Davis did get one break back, that was all she would get, failing to hold serve even once as Vickery easily wrapped up the set.
On the outside courts, seventh seed Mona Barthel has been defeated 6-2, 6-2 by Varvara Lepchenko, while promising 19–year-old American wildcard Sofia Kenin has beaten qualifier Jana Fett 6-4, 6-4.
12.15pm: Day Two of the ASB Classic is set to get underway, after a marathon rain-disrupted day opened proceedings yesterday.
Day One was completed at 1.21am this morning, when second seed Julia Goerges defeated Monica Puig in a quality three-set battle, and the rain delays left a bumper slate of action today.
The rain still threatens to cause intermittent delays at Stanley Street, but there still should be action on centre court.
Plenty of big names are set to be in action today, with defending champion Lauren Davis taking on qualifier Sachia Vickery at 12.30.
Set to follow is third seed Barbora Strycova against talented and experienced wildcard Sara Errani, then fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska against Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.
The night session promises plenty, with top seed Caroline Wozniacki taking on Madison Brengle, and Kiwi Jade Lewis finishing the night against Slovakian qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova.
Kiwis are also in action on the outside courts, with Paige Hourigan and Erin Routliffe teaming up for the first round of the doubles.
Perfect conditions at @ASB_Classic. Hopefully stays that way...@nzheraldsport pic.twitter.com/ioc8evFHLW
— Michael Burgess (@mikeburgess99) January 1, 2018
Carlos Alcaraz came back from two sets down to defend his title.