Caroline Wozniacki wins China Open

Caroline Wozniacki is the China Open champion, winning the title with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Latvian Anastasija Sevastova.

The world No.2 swept through the draw in Beijing this week without dropping a set. Her victory comes eight years after she won her first China Open title in 2010, which ensured her world No.1 debut.

“China holds a special place in my heart,” Wozniacki said as she accepted her trophy.

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Eight is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture – and it certainly proved that way for Wozniacki tonight.

The Dane took control early, opening up a 6-3 4-1 lead. She was moving well, combining offense and defense with aplomb and leaving her 28-year-old opponent frustrated.

But just when Wozniacki looked to be closing in on the title, Sevastova lifted and broke back.

The eighth game proved pivotal. With the momentum on Sevastova’s side, it looked like Wozniacki was unravelling. Facing a break point on her serve, she received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct which led to a heated discussion with the chair umpire.

Yet she settled to hold, stemming Sevastova’s run.

The Dane raced to a 0-40 lead on Sevastova’s serve in the following game, setting up three championship points. Sevastova saved two – but sailed a forehand long on the third, handing Wozniacki her first Premier Mandatory title since Indian Wells in 2011.

In claiming her 30th career title, she joins Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Agnieszka Radwanska as a two-time China Open champion. It was an emphatic return to form for the Dane, who arrived in Beijing having not won consecutive matches since June.

“I didn’t feel great going into the tournament, to be honest,” Wozniacki said.

“But I think after kind of the second match I started feeling like I was hitting the ball well and I could see the ball really well. By the third match, I thought I played really great tennis. Then I started believing that, you know, I’m really hitting my form, playing myself into shape. It worked out well.”

The big 3?-0?!@CaroWozniacki captures career title No. 30 and second @ChinaOpen title with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Sevastova. pic.twitter.com/kfM1gSUOQX

— WTA (@WTA) October 7, 2018

Wozniacki now holds three of the nine biggest titles in women’s tennis:

Sevastova described the biggest final of her career as “tough”.

“I had chances in the second set. I think the second set should have been closer. Maybe I had even chances to win it,” she said.

“But she played solid throughout. She didn’t give me any presents.”

Despite her loss, the world No.20 is projected to rise to a new career-high ranking of No.12.