Wozniacki fends off Pliskova to reach final
Semi-final defeat in Singapore ends Czech’s dreams of finishing No.1
>> SINGAPORE: Caroline Wozniacki stood her ground in the face of some incredible early pressure before pulling away from Karolina Pliskova to eke out a 7-6 (11/9), 6-3 victory in a captivating semi-final showdown at the WTA Finals yesterday.
The victory, completed in four minutes under two hours, was built on the Dane’s resilience, consistency and greater variation on the key points, and put the 27-year-old into her second final in the eight-woman season-ending tournament after losing in 2010.
Wozniacki goes on to meet the winner of the second semi-final between Venus Williams and Caroline Garcia later last night, while Pliskova is left to rue a defeat that prevents her from being able to replace Simona Halep as world No.1.
“We have had a lot of close matches this year and I was hoping today was my turn. It feels great to be in the final and I have been playing some great tennis this week,” Wozniacki said in a courtside interview.
Wozniacki said she kept “fighting” through the marathon 82-minute first set.
“It went back and forth,” she told reporters after the match. “It was very important to win the first set. I think that broke her a little bit. I think it was important for both of us to get that first one.”
Pliskova said she would not stew over missing out on the top ranking. “I’m absolutely fine with that,” she said. “This is the last thing that I’m thinking about now.
“I improved from last year, which was my goal.”
HINGIS BIDS FAREWELL
Martina Hingis ended her career on a losing note when the retiring Swiss great and her partner Chan Yungjan of Taiwan were beaten 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) by Timea Babos and Andrea Hlavackova in a WTA Finals doubles semi-final yesterday.
Hingis announced on Thursday that she was hanging up her racquet for a third and final time following this week’s event, bringing an end to an illustrious career that has garnered 25 Grand Slam wins — five in singles, 20 in doubles.
Hingis admitted it was a “disappointing” way to bow out but said she had no regrets about her stellar career.
“I’m sure we both wish for a better ending and, you know, winning the trophy,” she told reporters after the match. “They were just too good today.”
“I don’t think I have any regrets. I think it’s been an amazing journey and amazing career that I can be proud of.
“I’ll definitely miss it at some point in my life.”
Despite the defeat, Hingis will go out on at least one high after the WTA confirmed on Friday that she had secured the year-end No.1 ranking in women’s doubles alongside Chan after the pair won nine titles in 2017, including the US Open.