Caroline Wozniacki emerged a survivor as three of the top five seeds crashed out in the second round at the Aegon International on Tuesday.
The second-seeded Dane, who won the pre-Wimbledon title six years ago on the English south coast, dispatched Australian Jarmila Gajdosova 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in her opening match to move into the third round.
Wozniacki has now beaten Gajdosova nine times without a loss.
Photo: AP
The holder of 23 career titles stands 33-14 on grass for her career as she opened her season on the lawns with the victory after last losing in the French Open second round.
While Wozniacki was advancing, other leading seeds were knocked out.
Dominika Cibulkova, an Australian Open finalist last year, took another step in her comeback after foot surgery, winning her second match of the week as she sent Roland Garros finalist and third seed Lucie Safarova to a 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 loss.
Briton Johanna Konta extended her hometown win streak with a knockout of Russian fourth seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-4.
“I’m just happy that I was able to do that today and I’m looking forward to my next opportunity to be able to do that again,” the No. 146 wild card said.
American Sloane Stephens eliminated Spanish clay ace Carla Suarez Navarro, seeded fifth, 6-1, 7-5.
Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic knocked out holder and 12th seed Madison Keys 6-2, 6-2, while 16th seed Samantha Stosur was beaten by Tsvetana Pironkova 7-5, 7-6 (7/0).
Eugenie Bouchard won only her second match since mid-March after struggling to find form, earning a 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 defeat of Alison Riske.
The former top-10 player, now ranked 12th, has gone 2-10 over her past dozen matches, as the form which took the 21-year-old to the Wimbledon title match as well as Australian Open and Roland Garros semi-finals last year, disappeared this year.
The seventh seed’s win in 1 hour, 40 minutes was her first on grass this season and could not have come at a better time, with Wimbledon starting on Monday.
“I felt good with my game today, happy with the way I fought. I just want to keep going, take another step tomorrow,” Bouchard said.
There were also wins for eighth seed Karolina Pliskova, ninth seed Agineszka Radwanska, 10th seed Andrea Petkovic and 14th seed Garbine Muguruza.
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