Caroline Wozniacki beats Naomi Osaka to win Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo
Sunday 25 September 2016 10:05, UK
Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki overpowered Naomi Osaka to win the Pan Pacific Open, her first tournament triumph since February 2015.
The Dane, who has battled back from a wretched run of injuries this year, weathered an early storm from her teenage opponent before easing over the finish line 7-5, 6-3.
"It's the last match of the tournament, and I just wanted to go out and enjoy it," said Wozniacki, who secured her second Tokyo title and 24th of her career.
"It's the final and both of us had great weeks. We both wanted to go out there and play well. I'm enjoying it at the moment.
"Injuries happen and you never know when you can be taken out of the game, so I'm just enjoying every minute."
Wozniacki, the Pan Pacific champion six years ago, survived another health scare after dropping serve to go down 4-3 in the first set.
After feeling a twinge in her left thigh, she left the court to undergo treatment and returned with her leg heavily bandaged. But she surged back and ripped a backhand down the line to take the set.
After reaching the US Open semi-finals earlier this month to signal her return to form, Wozniacki showed her continuing class by storming to a 5-0 lead in the second as Osaka's game unravelled in the Tokyo sunshine.
Playing with the roof open after a week of typhoon rains, the 18-year-old Osaka paid for her youthful exuberance and a strategy of aggression throughout and had to call a medical timeout of her own for a sore right shoulder after losing the first set.
The lively teenager produced a spirited fightback of sorts to avoid the dreaded 'bagel' but it was too little too late.
Wozniacki, who had seen her world ranking plunge to 74th after suffering wrist and ankle injuries, completed victory with a crisp backhand which forced Osaka into yet another wild shot, giving the 26-year-old her first title since Kuala Lumpur last year.
The Dane also maintained her record of having won a tournament every year since 2008 and is set to climb to 22 or 23 in the rankings.
