Goerges wins 3rd title in a row

Two more titles were decided yesterday, and both winners made big statements.

Julia Goerges in Auckland won her third tournament in succession, proving just a touch too strong for top seed Caroline Wozniacki.

The German second seed ended 2017 by taking out events in Moscow and Zhuhai and will, by her efforts in New Zealand, achieve a career high ranking of 12.

Goerges broke Wozniacki in the opening game and there were no more break points in the set, leaving Goerges as the victor 6-4.

The second set saw both players convert one of three break points and a tie break eventuate.

Goerges won that and the match, belting 41 winners throughout, and committing only 23 unforced errors.

Despite the loss Wozniacki moves to number two in the world ahead of the Aus Open.

Meanwhile, Queenslanders enjoyed Nick Kyrgios winning the Brisbane International.

The Australian had to save five break points early in set one against Ryan Harrison and did so.

The only chance for Nick was taken and he served out the set with purpose. 6-4 Ryan from that point was effectively a spectator in the Kyrgios show.

Serving and ground shots were simply sensational for the most part off the Aussie racquet, and the Harrison support act donated two games in a valiant but forlorn battle.

6-4 6-2 and a fourth title for Nick, the first on home soil.

He should, given this form, and continued fitness, trouble the top seeds in Melbourne.

The remaining tournaments leading into the Australian Open are underway in Hobart (WTA), Auckland (ATP) and Sydney (WTA and ATP).

To date, 4 women’s seeds have fallen in the first round in Sydney - Dominika Cibulkova was a horror draw for Anastasija Sevastova (8) as Domi has a fine record in Australia, once a AO finalist.

The horror was realised in a 6-3 6-1 disaster for the eighth seed, converting none of 9 break points created.

Jelena Ostapenko (3) was eliminated by Ekaterina Makarova and Kristina Mladenovic (5) withdrew from her encounter with Australian wildcard Ellen Perez, ranked 341, after trailing 4-6 2-4.

2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens (6) lost badly to Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi 3-6 0-6, winning just 7 of 31 points in the second set.