Highest seed left in the tournament, Caroline Wozniacki took on defending champion Jelena Jankovic. In the battle of the former number ones, it was the Serbian who began strongly. However, Wozniacki started finding her range to grab the first set with some explosive tennis. She only grew better as the match went on and despite Jankovic putting up some late resistance it was not enough as Wozniacki sealed a clinical 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Jankovic starts strong but Wozniacki got better to snatch the first set
Jankovic got off to the perfect start showing her intent from the start but Wozniacki just about hung on to hold in the opening game. The Serbian kept up the pressure and was rewarded with a break in the third game to move ahead 2-1. However, the Dane began hitting shots with more pace and venom and got the break right back after a backhand error into the net from the Jankovic.
Wozniacki, however, continued struggling on her own service game allowing the Serbian to edge ahead once more for 3-2. Jankovic, however, could not hang on as breaks continued with the Dane leveling for 3-3. Wozniacki was once again pushed by the Serbian on her serve but this time hung on to nose ahead to 4-3 for the first time in the set.
With the Dane striking the ball better and finding some great shots, Jankovic faltered under pressure as Wozniacki broke for her third consecutive game. There was nothing much the Serbian could do as the Dane wrapped up the first set with her fourth game on the trot.
Solid Wozniacki resists fightback from Jankovic to seal the win
Wozniacki continued her momentum into the second set hitting some glorious shots. Jankovic’s serve was put under pressure each time and the Dane had an answer to everything and earned the double break to lead 3-0. Wozniacki followed it up with a comfortable hold of serve to race ahead for 4-0.
The Serbian was forced to hit an extra couple of balls just to win points against Wozniacki who not only was aggressive but was good defensively as well. Jankovic had game point to get herself on board in the fifth game but that too was snuffed out by the Dane who conjured up yet another break point. Jankovic defending with all she had for a gutsy hold.
That seemed to fire up the Serbian who broke the Dane’s serve to reduce the deficit to two games. Jankovic was on a mini-resurgence of her own winning her third game in a row to claw back to 3-4. That pressure was getting to Wozniacki and she almost allowed Jankovic to level. The Serbian’s delicious volley set up break point but the Dane remained composed to see off the chance and hang on to her lead for 5-3. Jankovic held to force Wozniacki to serve for the match and the fifth seed did just that ending the Serbian’s title defense in the process.