Wozniacki outlasts Arvidsson

INDIAN WELLS, California - Agence France-Presse

Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki brushed aside a shaky first set to come from behind and beat Sofia Arvidsson 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the Indian Wells tennis tournament third round.

Denmark’s Wozniacki, who won a half dozen titles last year, is still finding her way in 2012 and it showed March 12 as she struggled to hold serve against her fellow Scandinavian in a two hour, 35 minute night match.

It was an uphill struggle at times for the former world number one as Arvidsson came charging out of the gate, using excellent groundstrokes to seize control in some of the longer rallies in front of about 2,000 people at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“I have known Sofia since I was 12 or 13,” Wozniacki said. “We practised together and we know each other’s games so well. She just came from a win in Memphis so I know she was on fire. I am so happy with the win.” Arvidsson was the victor in the pair’s first encounter six years ago, when Wozniacki was only 15, but the Dane has now won five of their six meetings since then.
Wozniacki will play Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round.