Caroline Wozniacki holds off Taylor Townsend challenge

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.

© 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.

© 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.