Tennis

World No 1 Wozniacki into China Open final

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-10-09 17:45

BEIJING - Top seed and new world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark toppled Shahar Peer of Israel in straight sets to reach the final of China Open here on Saturday.

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark blows kisses to the crowd after winning her semi-final match against Shahar Peer of Israel at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing October 9, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

It did not take long for Wozniacki to put a slightly slow start behind her and move closer to her sixth WTA titles in a year after beating world No. 18 Peer 7-5, 6-2. The 20-year-old Dane will meet US Open runner-up Vera Zvonareva, who beat home favourite Li Na in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

Wozniacki wrenched her left knee in the semifinals' victory over Ana Ivanovic 7-6(1), 6-4 and came back on the court with bandages wrapping over her left knee in front of Peer, who scored her first victory against Wozniacki in their most recent meeting at Dubai Open.

Peer had a better start by breaking the first game. Wozniacki broke back in the second and did it again in the fourth to go ahead 5-3. However, the knee injury seemed to interrupt the top seed's performance-both in moving and in serving-before Peer levelled the score to 5-all. Wozniacki found her rhythm back in time to escape tiebreaker after gaining her third break in the 12th game.

The 23-year-old Israeli broke to lead 2-0 in the second set, before Wozniacki, perfectly steady in her mind and with her strokes, won the final six games in a row to conclude the one hour and 15 minutes' match.

Wozniacki has reached a tour-leading seven finals this year and is followed by her final opponent Zvonareva on six.