<p>Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki strolled into the second round of the Dubai tennis championships by beating Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday after Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka withdrew due to a foot injury.<br /> <br /></p>.<p>Wozniacki 22, made short work of her Czech opponent, winning in an hour, although she lost her serve at 5-1 in the first set before breaking back immediately. <br /><br />Safarova double-faulted to gift the world number 10 a 3-1 lead in the second set and she capped a miserable display with a shanked forehand to lose the match. <br /><br />Wozniacki ended 2010 and 2011 as the top-ranked women's player, but endured a tough 2012, slipping down the standings as she made little impression at the grand slams. <br /><br />This year has also proved difficult for the Dane, who has gone beyond the last 16 in only one tournament, and she will now face Chinese qualifier Jie Zheng before a potential showdown with new world number one Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. <br /><br />Williams, who received a bye to the second round, will play France's Marion Bartoli on Wednesday and the American's chances of winning a 48th singles tour title were boosted by the withdrawal of Azarenka. <br /><br />The Belarussian, 23, who also pulled out of last year's Dubai tournament, said she needed to rest after injuring her right foot. <br /><br />"I have been obviously playing a lot of tennis over the last five days, especially, so going to a new tournament is too much to handle right now - it keeps getting worse," said the world number two. <br /><br />Earlier, Italy's Sara Errani defeated Germany's Julia Goerges 6-3, 4-6 ,6-4. Czech Petra Kvitova put an indifferent start to 2013 behind her as she thumped qualifier Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-1. <br /><br />On Monday, Ana Ivanovic beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 7-6 in the first round while US teenager Sloane Stephens was beaten 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 by Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.</p>
<p>Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki strolled into the second round of the Dubai tennis championships by beating Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday after Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka withdrew due to a foot injury.<br /> <br /></p>.<p>Wozniacki 22, made short work of her Czech opponent, winning in an hour, although she lost her serve at 5-1 in the first set before breaking back immediately. <br /><br />Safarova double-faulted to gift the world number 10 a 3-1 lead in the second set and she capped a miserable display with a shanked forehand to lose the match. <br /><br />Wozniacki ended 2010 and 2011 as the top-ranked women's player, but endured a tough 2012, slipping down the standings as she made little impression at the grand slams. <br /><br />This year has also proved difficult for the Dane, who has gone beyond the last 16 in only one tournament, and she will now face Chinese qualifier Jie Zheng before a potential showdown with new world number one Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. <br /><br />Williams, who received a bye to the second round, will play France's Marion Bartoli on Wednesday and the American's chances of winning a 48th singles tour title were boosted by the withdrawal of Azarenka. <br /><br />The Belarussian, 23, who also pulled out of last year's Dubai tournament, said she needed to rest after injuring her right foot. <br /><br />"I have been obviously playing a lot of tennis over the last five days, especially, so going to a new tournament is too much to handle right now - it keeps getting worse," said the world number two. <br /><br />Earlier, Italy's Sara Errani defeated Germany's Julia Goerges 6-3, 4-6 ,6-4. Czech Petra Kvitova put an indifferent start to 2013 behind her as she thumped qualifier Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-1. <br /><br />On Monday, Ana Ivanovic beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 7-6 in the first round while US teenager Sloane Stephens was beaten 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 by Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.</p>