Zvonareva thrashes Wozniacki in Hong Kong

HONG KONG: Russian tennis ace Vera Zvonareva threw down the gauntlet ahead of the Australian Open with an awe-inspiring demolition of world number one Caroline Wozniacki in Hong Kong on Saturday.

The 26-year-old took just 56 minutes and dropped just one game as she thrashed the Dane 6-1, 6-0 on the back of an equally ruthless straight-sets win over Venus Williams at the exhibition tournament.

Wozniacki, 20, who rose to the top of the rankings in October last year, topped the bill at this week's Hong Kong Tennis Classic World Team Challenge.

But it was her Russian rival who has emerged as the player to be feared when the Australian Open starts in Melbourne on January 17.

Zvonareva, who enjoyed a career-best season last year, pounced on her opponent's weak second serve without mercy and overwhelmed the Dane at the baseline, taking the first set in just 25 minutes.

Wozniacki, renowned for her consistency, made an uncharacteristic 10 unforced errors against just one winner in the first set and quickly dropped two service games in the second as Zvonareva took complete control.

Zvonareva's win helped Russia to a 3-1 victory over Europe in the Hong Kong exhibition.

The Russians had an overnight 1-0 lead over Europe in the gold final after Maria Kirilenko beat France's Aravane Rezai 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Sweden's six-time Grand Slam singles champion Stefan Edberg, 44, drew Europe level after winning 6-4, 6-0 in his "legends" singles rubber against Russia's 36-year-old French and Australian Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

But Russian doubles pairing Maria Kirilenko and Kafelnikov dismissed Aravane Rezai and Edberg in straight sets to seal victory for Russia.

Earlier, the Americas' John McEnroe and five-time Wimbledon winner Williams won the consolation silver group final for losing semi-finalists, beating Asia-Pacific's Australian Mark Philippoussis and Zhang Ling of Hong Kong 6-2, 7-6.