Sloane Stephens d. Andrea Petkovic 6-3 6-3
Sloane Stephens emerged victorious against Andrea Petkovic in a surprising straight sets victory. Stephens drew first blood breaking Petkovic in the first game then consolidating to establish a 2-0 lead. However Petkovic would go on to win the next 3 games to bring the game back on serve before Stephens levelled at 3-3. The American then broke in the next game, taking her second break point before holding with ease. Serving to keep herself in the set, Petkovic could have had a better start as Stephens went 0-30 ahead. Petkovic then saved 2 set points but was powerless to save the third set point seeing Stephens take the first set 6-3. The young American took her dominant play into the second set winning the first 3 games to take a huge step into the next round. However serving at 4-3 and to go within one game of the victory, Stephens let her guard slip getting broke to love by Petkovic to bring the set back on serve. Petkovic couldn’t consolidate though and Stephens broke to serve for the match. Perhaps aware of her last service game, Stephens held to love to win the match and notch an impressive win against an opponent who is having a great year on tour.
Caroline Wozniacki d Shuai Zhang 6-2 6-3
Just another day at the office for Caroline Wozniacki as she knocks out qualifier Shuai Zhang in two quick sets. Setting out stall early on, Wozniacki raced to a 3-0 lead and the set seemed to be all but over. However Zhang showed some fight and managed to break the Dane to bring the set back on serve but was unable to take advantage of this and handed Wozniacki the break straight back. With Wozniacki holding serve to go 5-2 up it was up to Zhang to keep herself in the set, but as has happened so often recently, Wozniacki broke to take the first set 6-2. The second set happened to appear closer as both players held serve followed by both breaking leaving the set at 2-2. However at 3-2 to the Dane, Zhang dropped serve for what would turn out to be the last time as both players would hold serve with Wozniacki serving the match out at 5-3 to win 6-2 6-3. Continuing her form of recent, Wozniacki is sure to be a danger to anyone in the draw she plays.
Simona Halep d. Kirsten Flipkens 6-4 6-2
In her long awaited return, Simona Halep returned to winning ways beating Kirsten Flipkens in two sets. The Romanian showed no signs of rustiness as she broke twice in the first three games to go ahead 3-0 and although dropping serve in the next game, Halep re-established her two break lead, consolidating to go 5-1 up. However the Belgian fought back to win the next three games to get within one game of Halep. With Halep serving for the set, Flipkens missed her opportunity to get it back on serve and Halep took the set on her third opportunity winning the set 6-4. Halep continued her dominance in the second set, again breaking in the first game. With the next three games going the way of the server, Halep delivered the killer blow in the next game, breaking again and holding to take a 5-1 lead. Flipkens held in her next game but Halep was unmoved, serving for the match, the Romanian took it on her first match point easing into the next round.