Wozniacki advances at Pan Pacific Open, Stosur stunned

Where World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki had an tough entry into the next round, reigning US Open champion Samantha Stosur was knocked out of the competition at a WTA premier event in Tokyo.

Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki struggled past Jarmila Gajdosova to advance into the pre-quarterfinals of the 2011 Toray Pan Pacific Open, a WTA premier event being played here in Tokyo, Japan.

Wozniacki opened the match on a good note and broke the Australian's serve repeatedly to clinch the first set 6-1. The second set saw Wozniacki race to a 5-3 lead after which she prepared to serve for the match at 5-4. It was then that an emotional Gajdosova made a comeback and after breaking the Dane back, won the set in a tie-break.

The decider once again opened on a competitive note after which Wozniacki picked up a decisive break in the eighth game to complete the 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3 win in two hours and 8 minutes of play.

Earlier today, reigning US Open champion Samantha Stosur suffered a shocking defeat handed by Russian Maria Kirilenko and bowed out of the WTA premier event, losing the three set tussle 2-6, 6-4, 4-6 in two hours and 14 minutes of play.

Stosur claimed her third singles title as a major in New York by taking out heavy favourite Serena Williams in straight sets in the final.

Third seed Victoria Azarenka and Russian Vera Zvonareva also advanced to the next round with comprehensive victories over their respective opponents. Zvonareva avenged her Wimbledon loss to Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova with a 7-5, 6-0 win over the Bulgarian star.

Meanwhile, ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska settled scores US Open semifinalist, German Angelique Kerber for the loss handed by the latter at the season's last Grand Slam event. Radwanska recovered from the first set loss to beat Kerber with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 scoreline.

Other winners of the day were Klara Zakopalova, Shuai Peng, Kaia Kanepi, Ana Ivanovic, Iveta Benesova, Vania King and Julia Goerges, who overwhelmed Greta Arn to move to the last 16 of the event.