Beijing: Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki defeated Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-3 in the China Open final to claim her third title of the season.
The Dane, who did not drop a set throughout the tournament, hit 12 winners and won four out of eight break point chances to beat the unseeded Sevastova in 87 minutes. It was Wozniacki’s second title in Beijing, following her success in 2010 which had taken her to the top of the world rankings for the first time in her career.
“I feel great being here having won again. Eight is my lucky number and it is eight years ago I won here so I felt like it was my year,” World No.2 Wozniacki said.
After easing through the first set, Wozniacki raced to a 4-1 lead in the second. Sevastova, who has been managing a stomach muscle injury since the round of 16, broke back to give herself a chance to mount a comeback.
But Wozniacki saved three break points to take a 5-3 lead as Sevastova struggled for consistency. The World No.20 made 35 unforced errors in the match, including 21 in the second set, to allow Wozniacki to close out the victory.
Wozniacki’s victory is bound to boost her confidence ahead of this month’s season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, where the 28-year-old is the defending champion.