Fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki has crashed out of the Cincinnati Open after losing 6-0 6-4 to Victoria Azarenka in the second round.
The performance from Azarenka was another indicator that the Belarusian could be on her way back to top form after an injury-wrecked 2014 ensured that she quickly dropped down the world rankings.
In a match dominated by poor serving and break points, Azarenka benefited from a strong start as she stormed clear in the opener by winning six successive games to stun her Danish opponent.
Wozniacki was given a route back into the match when she secured a break early in the second set, but she was pegged back in the fifth game.
It was far from a perfect evening for Azarenka, who was forced to save 10 break points, but the two-time Grand Slam winner was clinical enough to take her own chances as she broke once again before converting match point at the first attempt.
Callum Mulvihill
