Tennis

Wozniacki defeats Townsend in Australian Open 1st round

Published Jan. 19, 2015 11:37 p.m. ET

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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Caroline Wozniacki saved seven of eight break points she faced to withstand a tough challenge from 18-year-old American Taylor Townsend, winning 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday.

Townsend hit 30 winners to just 20 for the eighth-seeded Wozniacki, but the No. 99-ranked American also had 34 unforced errors.

Wozniacki reached her second U.S. Open final last year and finished the season ranked in the top 10 for the sixth straight year.

She faces a tough opponent in the second round - two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, who is unseeded this year after missing most of last season with a foot injury.

Wozniacki's best result at Melbourne Park is a semifinal finish in 2011.

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