Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki yesterday produced a spirited fightback to beat fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 and reach the Pan Pacific Open final.
The Dane, a winner in Tokyo six years ago, will face either Ukrainian Elina Svitolina or Japan’s Naomi Osaka in today’s Tokyo final as she goes in search of a 24th career title.
Wozniacki, who struck back from 3-1 down in the second and third sets, ended Radwanska’s resistance on her fourth match point, forcing the Pole into a loose forehand, which she dumped tamely into the net after almost three hours on court.
Photo: AFP
At times it was not pretty, but Wozniacki’s gritty display will give her confidence a further lift after battling back from a wretched run of injuries this year to reach the US Open semi-finals earlier this month.
Wozniacki had seen her world ranking plunge to 74th after suffering wrist and ankle trouble, her father even telling a Danish tabloid the 26-year-old could retire from tennis.
However, despite coughing up the first set on a double fault, Wozniacki showed glimpses of her old form in an error-strewn match featuring 13 breaks of serve.
Photo: AP
A whipped crosscourt forehand to take the initiative at 4-3 in the decider left Radwanska shaking her head and a full-blooded backhand drive to consolidate the break in the next game demonstrated why she used to be such a force.
Wozniacki, who carried her nation’s flag at this summer’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics, is looking to maintain her streak of having won a title in every year since 2008.
KOREA OPEN
AFP, SEOUL
Fifth seed Monica Niculescu of Romania yesterday sailed through to the Korea Open finals to take on Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena for the crown.
The 28-year-old Niculescu, currently the world No. 55, trounced third seed Shuai Zhang of China 6-0, 6-4 in 74 minutes.
Playing the first event since reaching the third round of the US Open earlier this month, the 55th-ranked Niculescu remained almost perfect throughout the battle, displaying powerful and accurate shots against the 27-year-old Zhang, who is ranked 40th.
The other semi-final saw Arruabarrena, ranked 90th, end the run of Romania’s Patricia Tig, ranked 135th, with a 6-1, 6-2 win.
The 22-year-old Arruabarrena advanced to the semi-finals after brushing aside second seed Johanna Larsson of Sweden 6-4, 6-0.
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