Serena Williams fights back to win, Coco Gauff knocked out in second round at Auckland

Wellington: Top seed Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki ensured the Auckland Classic retained their two main drawcards as they battled to second round victories on Thursday, although promising teenager Coco Gauff was knocked out.

Williams needed two hours to outlast fellow American Christina McHale with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory, while Wozniacki, who is playing her penultimate tournament, fought back to overcome a tenacious Lauren Davis 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

Gauff, however, was upset by Germany’s Laura Siegemund 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 in a two-hour, 14-minute match that opened Thursday’s action on the main court at the Auckland Tennis Centre.