Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki won seven straight games to beat American Christina McHale and reach the third round of the China Open.

BEIJING, China - Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki won the last seven games to cruise past Christina McHale in the second round of the China Open, 6-4, 6-0.

Facing the American for the first time in over three years, Wozniacki needed 84 minutes to book a spot opposite Czech Katerina Siniakova in the last 16 of the Premier Mandatory event.

After winning five of the first seven games, Wozniacki was pegged back on serve by the World No.90, who converted on her fourth break point of the opener as the Dane served for the set in the ninth game.

However, that proved to be the last game the American would win in the match, as she surrendered serve to love to lose the first set, and ultimately lost to the former World No.1 for the fourth straight time, dating back to a three-set victory on the lawns of the Nature Valley International in Eastbourne in 2012.

"I think I played pretty aggressively today," Wozniacki said after the match. "I came up with some good volleys, I returned well, I changed direction well I think. Moving forward I have to keep serving well and returning well, hopefully just keep playing the way that I have."

Looking to reach the quarterfinals of the China Open for the fifth time, Wozniacki will take a 3-1 head-to-head lead into her third round clash with Siniakova, who surrendered just three games to beat Jelena Ostapenko on Monday.

"Honestly, I feel pretty chill. I'm just going to go and do my best and that’s all you can really do. You win and you lose some," the Dane of the pursuit of her title defense, which would be the first since she won back-to-back editions of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in 2016 and 2017.

"This year has been pretty tough, but I still believe that when I feel healthy then I can beat anyone, so I’m not stressing about it. The last couple of weeks, my practices have been great. I’ve been feeling really good and I think that shows in my game.

"I’m one of those people who needs to practice hard and that’s what gives me confidence in my matches, so I’m just going to try and do my best and that’s it. It’s the last tournament of the year for me, so hopefully I can finish off on a high."