World No.1 Wozniacki Wins In Copenhagen
Published June 12, 2011 12:00
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Caroline Wozniacki won her WTA-leading fifth title of the year on Sunday, getting some revenge against Lucie Safarova for a loss in their only prior meeting to capture the e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open.
Wozniacki, the No.1 seed at the International-level tournament, didn't drop a set en route to the title match and kept it going against the No.4-seeded Safarova, storming through the first set in 23 minutes then fending off a far more solid Safarova in the 45-minute second set to complete a 61 64 victory.
Although Safarova showed glimpses of the form that helped her win their only previous meeting, a straight set win on the clay courts of Stuttgart a year ago, this time her numbers just weren't as solid as Wozniacki's, putting together a -3 differential (22 winners to 25 unforced errors). Wozniacki was +2 (12 to 10).
"I'm so happy to win this tournament in my home country - it's a special feeling," Wozniacki said afterwards. "This is my 17th title and last time I played here I had eight titles, so I've more than doubled that - it's a good feeling. The last three matches my game has been at a very high level and I'm looking forward to going to London, and practicing and preparing for Wimbledon."
Perhaps Safarova's previous matches this week caught up with her - she had to come back from a set down to win all four of her other matches, including a miraculous comeback from 61 40 down against Petra Martic in the semifinals.
"I'm disappointed, but it was a great week for me and I will be back next year," Safarova said. "Congratulations to Caroline, she played really well today. It must be great for her to win at home - I can only imagine. I wish her all the best."
Wozniacki is now 17-10 in her career in WTA finals. This was her fifth title of the year, following Premier-level triumphs at Dubai and Indian Wells on hardcourts and at Charleston and Brussels on clay courts. The Dane is now a perfect 10-0 in Copenhagen, 5-0 to win it last year and 5-0 to win it again this year.
In the doubles final earlier in the day, No.2 seeds Johanna Larsson and Jasmin Woehr defeated Kristina Mladenovic and Katarzyna Piter, 63 63. Larsson won her second WTA doubles title while Woehr won her fourth.
