Caroline Wozniacki vs. Kaia Kanepi: Final Preview – KDB Korea Open 2012
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki will face off the Estonian number one, Kaia Kanepi, in the final showdown at the KDB Korea Open Tennis Championship 2012 on Sunday. The Danish star battled past eighth seeded Ekaterina Makarova in three sets to reach this spot.
The third seed on the other hand also required three sets to overpower her rival, Varvara Lepchenko.
The former world number one, Wozniacki is bidding for her first year-to-date title this circuit. She is coming from a first round shocking defeat at the US Open against Romania’s Irina Begu. However, the Dane made a final showdown at the e-Boks Sony Ericsson
Open and reached semi-finals at the Miami WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier event and the Rogers Cup earlier this season.
The Danish number one recreated her magic at the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center. She crippled the Dutch challenger, Arantxa Rus, with a breadstick in the opening round. Wozniacki maintained her intensity and trashed the French qualifier, Caroline Garcia,
in straight sets to reach quarters. She required 75 minutes to tumble seventh seeded Klara Zakopalova in straight sets before encountering Makarova.
In her last match against Makarova, the Danish icon showed top class tennis skills and eventually pulled out the victory in two hours and 23 minutes. She was broken five times but cashed in seven out of 15 break chances to reach the final.
Wozniacki commented in a courtside interview after conquering the Russian:
"I did really well in the first set but couldn't close the second set out; I'm happy I finally broke her one more time in the third. She was returning very well today but I was just trying to focus on the next ball and the next game, and moving my feet better.
At the end of the day I'm happy to get through."
The 27-year-old Estonian also showed exceptional skills on the other side of the draw. She is coming from a three month break due to Achilles injury and it seems like she hasn’t lost her charm. Kanepi skipped 10 tournaments including the Wimbledon Championships,
London Olympics and the US Open.
Kanepi commented in a post match press conference:
"My season has definitely had its ups and downs because of my injuries, but last year was the same, and my whole career has been a little bit up and down as well. It's nothing new and I'm used to it."
The Estonian number one unleashed her true colours from the start of the tournament and after crushing her rivals in straight sets, she reached the semi-finals. Kanepi lost her serve four times but capitalised on four out of five break opportunities to seal
the deal in two hours.
Both challengers are facing each other for the sixth time with the Dane leading 3-2 in the head-to-head series against Kanepi. However, the Estonian stunned Wozniacki in their last encounter at the French Open earlier this season.
Currently ranked 11th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Wozniacki has sought her old momentum at this outdoor hard court event. She is expected to clobber a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 victory against the Estonian seed and will end her title drought.
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