Wozniacki to face Safarova

Caroline Wozniacki beat German qualifier Mona Barthel 6-1 6-2 to reach the Sony Ericsson Open final.

Safarova battles back from the brink in second semi

World number one Caroline Wozniacki beat German qualifier Mona Barthel 6-1 6-2 to reach the Sony Ericsson Open final, where she will face fourth-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic. Safarova rallied from 6-1 4-0 down to overcome Petra Martic of Croatia 1-6 6-4 6-2 in the other semi-final. Safarova, who has lost the first set in each of her matches in Copenhagen, looked down and out against 112th-ranked Martic in the second before hitting a string of winners to take 12 of the final 14 games. Until then, Martic tormented Safarova with expertly executed drop volleys. The unseeded Croatian looked to be cruising to the final until Safarova found her range and took six games in a row to claim the second set. Martic left the court after the second set to be treated for a back injury. With the third set level at 2-2, Martic hit three double faults and lost her service game. That appeared to weaken her resolve and Safarova swept through the next three games to close out the match. It will be a second final this year for Safarova, but the Czech left-hander won the last of her four career titles back in 2008. Wozniacki will be out to defend her hometown title and claim her fifth WTA title of the year in Sunday's final, although Safarova won their only previous meeting on clay in Stuttgart in 2010.