Elina Svitolina wins Brisbane International while Julia Goerges and Simona Halep also pick up titles
Thursday 24 May 2018 14:29, UK
Elina Svitolina enjoyed the best possible preparation for the Australian Open by winning the Brisbane International.
Svitolina, the world No 6, will be challenging for her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne later this month and got into the winning habit by trouncing Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2 6-1 in the Brisbane final.
Julia Goerges won her third straight title as she clinched victory over former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The 29-year-old German was in sparkling form, firing 41 winners and making just 23 unforced errors to win 6-4 7-6 (4-7) after 90 minutes on court.
After the match, Goerges said her achievement felt "amazing".
She added on the WTA website: "It's not just about winning here, but the consistency I've had for the last few weeks and months. That makes me prouder, and I'm just enjoying every moment of it."
Wozniacki, meanwhile, vowed to get her revenge at the Australian Open in Melbourne later this month.
Quoted on the website, she said: "She played really well today, and she had a great end to last season too, so it's good to see her bringing that form into this year.
"I'll try to get my revenge in Australia!"
Elsewhere, Simona Halep enjoyed a double success as she fine-tuned her Australian Open preparations in Shenzhen.
The world No 1 got the better of Katerina Siniakova twice in China, beating her to win the Shenzhen Open and then the doubles title at the same event.
Halep heads to Australia as one of the favourites - more so after Serena Williams' withdrawal - and does so after a 6-1 2-6 6-0 victory over Siniakova.
She then teamed up with Irina-Camelia Begu to topple Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova in the doubles.
