Tennis: Wozniacki hits right note in effortless start

Caroline Wozniacki made some unforced errors but was still too strong. Picture / Nick Reed

Sweet Caroline indeed.

Caroline Wozniacki walked off centre court last night with Neil Diamond's famous anthem playing around Stanley St, as the former World No1 made a impressive start to her Auckland campaign.

There was never any doubt about the result - the top seed was always going to be too good for Israeli qualifier Julia Glushko - but the manner of the performance would have ticked most boxes in the Wozniacki camp.

The 24-year-old prevailed 6-3 6-2 in just under 70 minutes, overcoming some early unforced errors to finish strongly.

She was broken twice, but fought well to save five other break points and found her best touches when she needed them most in an efficient display.

On her second appearance in Auckland, Wozniacki has a lot to live up to.

In each of the last two years the marquee players have lifted the trophy (Ana Ivanovic and Agnieszka Radwanska) and Wozniacki fits that bill this year. She spent 67 weeks on top of the tennis world in 2010 and 2011, before a freefall left her outside the top 10 for extended periods.

There was a resurgence in the second half of 2014, capped by a run to the US Open final where she was only stopped by Serena Williams.

She might lack the power of some but defensively is without peer.

Wozniacki moves like a leopard along the baseline and her positioning allows winners to be hit where other players have to settle for a retrieval.

The Dane wants to add a more attacking side to her game - and there were signs last night - as she went for winners earlier in the rallies.

Today she will face wild card Taylor Townsend in a terrific match up of styles, though the American will struggle to contend with Wozniacki's accuracy.

Meanwhile, the upsets continued on day two, with Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka recovering from a set down to dispatch Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6 7-6 6-4.

Julia Goerges of Germany, Belgian Kirsten Flipkens and Elena Vesnina of Russia were among the other first round winners yesterday.