Wozniacki upsets Dementieva to win Tokyo tournament
World Number 2 Caroline Wozniacki may be closing in on the top position, currently occupied by Serena Williams, after her defeat of Russian Elena Dementieva on Saturday. The top seed of the Toray Pan Pacific Open managed to defeat World Number 10 Dementieva,
who won the same tournament in 2006, in a largely unpredictable match, with the final score as 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. For Wozniacki, this victory means that she is much closer to being World Number 1, if she manages to reach the quarter finals or better at the China
Open tournament in Beijing next week.
Top player Serena Williams herself has dropped out of every WTA tournament since June, including the China Open and the Toray Pan Pacific Open, due to an alleged foot injury due from a glass cut. Her absence has left Wozniacki’s path clear for domination
in the Women’s Tennis Association. Her 2010 Toray Pan Pacific Open victory signifies her fifth title this year. Wozniacki herself commented, when asked by reporters about her plans for the world’s top position, “Of course being number one has always been a
goal of mine, but right now I am just focusing on winning the next tournament.”
Wozniacki set off the match with a slow start, with Dementieva defeating her in the first set 1-6. She picked up her game at the second set, taking over Dementieva’s play with a 6-2 win. The game became unpredictable and edgy within the third round, where
Dementieva seemed to be racing towards a clear victory with a 4-love lead, due to a first set win (a consequence of Wozniacki’s double fault). However, the seventh seed soon double faulted in the second set, giving Wozniacki a chance to regain her footing.
The 20 year old Dane commented on her third set performance, saying, “Elena was playing well in the first set, getting a lot of first shots in. In the second set I really didn’t have anything to lose so I just tried to get some more depth on the balls and
make her run a little more.”
During the second set, Dementieva had a chance to continue her winning streak when she was leading by 40-0 in the third game; however, Wozniacki fought to break and took the lead. She upset Dementieva for a win at the tournament when the Russian fumbled
a routine forehand into the net, giving her opponent a break which she couldn’t recover from at 4-3; she double faulted twice in a row, giving the match to Wozniacki. Dementieva regretted her missed opportunities, which resulted in an abrupt win for her opponent
and fast meltdown for her. After the match, she told reporters, “That was not the most exciting way to finish the match. I didn’t use my opportunities and let her get back in it. I allowed her to play the way she likes to.”
Caroline Wozniacki was elated by the victory, and seems to be upbeat about the upcoming China Open in Beijing. The tennis pro believes that her new fitness regime has improved her game, saying, “A few things have happened. I have grown a bit, not only physically
but mentally as well and I feel I can beat anyone now. It’s my 11th (career) title. I’m so happy.”
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