DPA/Dubai

Former world number one players Jelena Jankovic and Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships yesterday as a weekend winner Simona Halep was forced to retire hurt.
Fifth seed Jankovic, who finished atop the rankings in 2008, beat Maryna Zanevska of the Ukraine 6-4, 6-3. Eighth seeded Dane Wozniacki won a battle between players of Polish descent, defeating Germany’s Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
German qualifier Annika Beck beat 2011 US open winner Samantha Stosur 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.
But Simona Halep was forced to retire trailing France’s Alize Cornet 6-1, 1-1 in an opening match less than 48 hours after winning the WTA title in Doha, Qatar.
The Romanian ranked ninth had felt pain from an inflamed achilles tendon last week but the problem proved to be too much for her in Dubai.
“I wanted to try, because I like to try to fight for my chance, but here I couldn’t.  After one set I realised that it is dangerous to continue.
“When I jump with my serve and when I stop at the rallies, I feel the pain. And today I felt it stronger.”
Jankovic will next line up against Czech Lucie Safarova, who she has defeated in six of eight meetings over the past eight years. “I expect really a tough match. Hopefully I can play a lot better than I did today and we will see how it goes,” she said.
Wozniacki won the Dubai title in 2011, the second and last season that she finished top of the rankings.
The Dane trailed a set and a game before finding a solution against the big-hitting Lisicki in windy conditions.
“I knew she was going to come out hot and just go for her shots, I felt like I was just a step behind,” said Wozniacki. “In the second set I started serving really well, I was really pleased with my serves.