Halep, Kvitova among Dubai winners
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dubai, United Arab Emirates (SportsNetwork.com) - Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova were among the second-round winners Tuesday at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The top-seeded Halep thumped Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-0, while the second- seeded Kvitova had to rally for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Elina Svitolina.
Halep took full advantage of a likely tired Hantuchova, who won the Thailand Open title this past weekend and also played a first-round match in this tournament on Monday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I think she was a little bit tired because she came from (Thailand)," said Halep. "Maybe I was more fresh, and I was running very well."
Kvitova didn't have it as easy.
"I'm not sure where I was in the first set," said Kvitova, the 2013 Dubai champ. "I don't think I was on the court."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A number of other top players advanced Tuesday.
Caroline Wozniacki, the third seed and 2011 Dubai winner, also struggled against Samantha Stosur. The Dane had to come back from a set down to pull out a 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 decision.
Fourth-seeded Ana Ivanovic dropped just three games in her 6-0, 6-3 rout of Sabine Lisicki, while fifth-seeded Angieszka Radwanska went the distance in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Caroline Garcia. Radwanska won the 2012 Dubai title.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ekaterina Makarova, the sixth seed, and seventh-seeded Angelique Kerber each moved on with straight-set wins, as did 10th-seeded Flavia Pennetta. However, ninth-seeded Andrea Petkovic, coming off her title last week in Antwerp, lost to Zarina Diyas and 12th-seeded Jelena Jankovic fell to Garbine Muguruza.
The 2015 Dubai champion will claim $456,000.