By Chris Oddo | Saturday September 24, 2016
Caroline Wozniacki continued her revival in Tokyo by defeating Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the final of the Toray Pan Pacific.
Photo Source: Toray PPO
Caroline Wozniacki has reached a WTA final for the first time in well over a year. The suddenly resurgent Dane defeated Agnieszka Radwanska for the fourth consecutive time, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, to book her spot in the Toray Pan Pacific final.
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Wozniacki has now won nine of her last ten matches since the U.S. Open. Her only defeat in that span came in the semifinals at the Open when she lost to Angelique Kerber.
On Saturday in Tokyo the former world No. 1 needed two hours and 50 minutes to dispatch two-time and defending champion Radwanska. The Pole had her chance at victory in the second set but failed to serve out the match with a 5-3 lead. After rallying to level at a set apiece Wozniacki fell behind 3-1 in set three before taking five of the final six games against the No. 2 seed.
Wozniacki improves to 4-1 in 2016 against the Top 10 with the win, but just 3-7 in deciding sets. The 28-year-old has been battered by injuries this season. She injured her ankle and had to spend time in a walking boot, missing two and a half months before returning for the grass-court season. She also suffered a left elbow injury this August.
But Wozniacki got healthy and turned her season around at the U.S. Open by defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova and Madison Keys en route to her fifth career U.S. Open semifinal.
In Asia she has continued her momentum and looks primed to make a push to return to the Top 10 by the end of the season.
The victory marks Wozniacki’s 41st career final. She will bid for her 24th title on Sunday in Tokyo when she meets Japan's Naomi Osaka. The 18-year-old, playing at a career-high ranking of 66, powered past Elina Svitolina to reach her first career final, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Osaka will bid to become the first Japanese woman to win the Tokyo title since Kimiko Date-Krumm in 1995.
Wozniacki has claimed at least one title in every season since 2008, and the world No. 26 will look to keep that streak alive on Sunday by winning the Tokyo title for the second time.