Djokovic, Sharapova win in China, as Wozniacki falls

Novak Djokovic continued his 100 percent record at the China Open Wednesday as he overcame late resistance from Vasek Pospisil, while Maria Sharapova also won but Caroline Wozniacki crashed out. The number one seed in Beijing was playing at his dominating best in the first set, breaking serve in the third and final games as he appeared in control.
But the Serb lost his trademark composure midway through the second set, screaming to himself in anger as he failed to capitalise on a break point in the fourth game. Canadian Pospisil was in the ascendency three games later, drawing level at 40-40 with a brilliant cross-court shot which left the world number one flat-footed. The 41st ranked player in the world then went on to force break-point and took the game following an incredible 26-shot rally.
But his valiant fightback was in vain when a clearly relieved Djokovic won the next game, punching the air with delight and screaming as he made it 5-5. Djokovic then took the next two games as he closed in on victory, and moments later was dancing to the applause of the crowd as a dejected Pospisil made his way to the court exit. Pospisil served "extremely well" in the second set, Djokovic said, which put added pressure on his game. "That's why the second set was very close," Djokovic added following his 6-3, 7-5 victory.
Djokovic is bidding for his fifth title in Beijing, a tournament he has won every year since 2009 apart from 2011 when he did not take part. In the women's competition, fourth seed Sharapova got off to a flying start in her match, racing to a 5-0 lead over Carla Suarez Navarro. The Spaniard was a match for the world number four in the second set, but Sharapova was dominant at the tie-break, finishing the match 6-1, 7-6 (7/3).
World number three Kvitova opened her campaign to win a second consecutive event in China in commanding style. The Czech player defeated home-crowd favourite Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-2 in her first match since her victory at the Wuhan Open last Saturday, advancing in Beijing with the same confidence she showed at the earlier tournament. Peng, who made the semi-finals at the US Open last month, took a 2-0 lead before the Wimbledon champion stormed back, winning 12 of the next 16 games and wrapping up the match in just 66 minutes.