NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) Caroline Wozniacki is feeling healthy, and it showed in another victory at the Connecticut Open.
The four-time champion opened play Tuesday night by cruising past American Alison Riske 6-0, 6-4 to advance to the third round at the Connecticut Tennis Center.
''I felt pretty well out there,'' said Wozniacki, who is ranked No. 4 in the world. ''I felt a little rusty, but I felt like I was hitting the ball well, working hard and my body is feeling good finally. That's the main part I am really happy about.''
Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko, who was the Lucky Loser entry after top seed Simona Halep withdrew due to injury, won her first match despite a brief rain delay. She eliminated Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-0.
Also winning singles matches were Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova, who defeated Kristina Mladenovic 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-5, and France's Caroline Garcia, who won in straight sets 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 over Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova. Sixth-ranked Czech Lucie Safarova closed out the night with a 6-3, 6-4 win, which was delayed for three-plus minutes due to a fire alarm, over Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu.
Wozniacki made quick work of Riske in a stadium that she dominated from 2008-11 with four straight titles.
''When I am healthy I know I can play at a high level and I showed that today,'' said Wozniacki, who has been bothered by lower back and calf injuries. ''I was returning well and serving all right and I just had a game plan in mind. I've been working and training on a few things that I really wanted to do out there today. It's either going to work or it's not, but this is the way I want to play moving forward.''
The 25-year-old Odense, Denmark native doesn't have much time to celebrate. Since Wozniacki got a late start after spending Monday in New York City, she will be back on the court late Wednesday afternoon against Italy's Roberta Vinci.
''I'll be fine,'' she said. ''I love New York, it always gives me a big buzz of energy, so I felt good this morning. (Monday) was fun, but I'm ready to play tennis now.''
Tsurenko also had an easy time with Strycova, who never led in either set.
''It was really exciting for me to get into the main draw, and I was really happy,'' said Tsurenko, who is ranked 46th in the world. ''I was really happy, because the last match in the (qualifier) was not a great match for me, and I felt like I am not really ready to play matches like I am out of shape. I don't know, it was a strange feeling on court.''