By Chris Oddo | Saturday September 24, 2016
Caroline Wozniacki defeated 18-year-old Naomi Osaka in straight sets to claim the Tokyo title.
Photo Source: Toray PPO
Caroline Wozniacki claimed her fist WTA title since February of 2015, defeating Naomi Osaka for the Toray Pan Pacific crown, 7-5, 6-3, on Sunday in Tokyo.
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The 26-year-old former No. 1 has turned around her season in the last month. Riddled by injuries for much of the season and ranked outside of the Top 50 for the first time since 2008 at No. 74 in the world, she reached the U.S. Open semifinals in early September.
In Tokyo, Wozniacki made it 10 wins out of 11 by claiming her 24th career title. She has won four of five matches against the Top 10 in that span, and will climb inside the Top 25 in next week’s rankings.
She was pushed early against Osaka, and physically as well. The 18-year-old twice had a break lead in set one, and she seemed to have Wozniacki on the ropes. Wozniacki needed to take a medical timeout to deal with a left hip injury, but the Dane came back to the court no worse for the wear. With heavy strapping around her left thigh, and proceeded to grab the set on the strength of a late break.
Between sets one and two Osaka joined the parade of walking wounded. After Wozniacki got an on-court rubdown, Osaka signaled for the trainer and took a medical timeout for an injured right shoulder.
After several minutes of what appeared to be painful prodding from the trainer, Osaka was ready to go. But her injury proved to be much more debilitating than Wozniacki’s.
Bidding to become the first Japanese winner at the Toray Pan Pacific Open since Kimiko Date-Krumm in 1995, Osaka fell behind 5-0 in set two while struggle to get any power on her first serve. She would dig deep, ignoring the pain to rally, winning three consecutive games and saving a match point, but Wozniacki closed the match on her second match point at the one hour and 46-minute mark.
The Dane’s title marks the ninth consecutive season in which she has won at least one title. She has gone 24-17 in her 41 career finals.
Wozniacki improves to 23-15 on the season and 20-11 on hardcourts with the win.
Osaka will climb inside the Top 50 for the first time on Monday as a result of her runner-up showing. She falls to 18-12 on the season.