Wozniacki beats Julia Goerges in first round of Sydney International

Johannesburg: Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki has made a winning start to her 2014 season by beating German Julia Goerges 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of the Sydney International, days after her New Year`s Eve engagement to golf ace Rory McIlroy.

The former number one withdrew from the Brisbane International last week after hurting her right shoulder during practice and struggled early against Goerges, who was replacing the injured Sloane Stephens in the draw, although she later overcame the German player. According to Sport24, meanwhile, Serb ace Jelena Jankovic lost 6-4, 6-2 to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in the first round earlier on Monday, while fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany beat Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 7-6 (5), 7-5 to move into the second round at the Sydney International. The Sydney International is one of the last warm-up tournaments for the Australian Open, the report added.