MX23RW : Friday, April 19 06:10:00| >> :600:291663241:291663241:

Caroline Wozniacki holds off Taylor Townsend challenge

Caroline Wozniacki reaches round two of the Australian Open thanks to a 7-6 6-2 win over Taylor Townsend.

Caroline Wozniacki has avoided joining some high-profile departures by beating Taylor Townsend 7-6 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open.

Caroline Wozniacki in action on day two of the Australian Open on January 20, 2015© Getty Images

The two players exchanged breaks early on in the match, and despite signs suggesting that Wozniacki was struggling on serve, the eighth seed managed to force the tie-break.

Townsend made a flurry of mistakes in the tie-break to gift the advantage to Wozniacki, who capitalised with a 7-1 success.

Taylor Townsend in action on day two of the Australian Open on January 20, 2015© Getty Images

The Dane saved a couple of break points in the early stages of the second set, but failed to convert when Townsend offered her a similar opportunity in the next game.

However, Wozniacki would clinch the crucial break of serve in the fifth game, before breaking again to set up the victory in comfortable fashion.

ID:200020: cacheID:200020:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2570:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Serena Williams of the US returns the ball to China's Li Na during a WTA Championships final tennis match on October 27, 2013
Read Next:
Williams to begin defence against Townsend
>