Tokyo: Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki romped to a 6-0, 7-5 victory over Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Sunday to win her third WTA Pan Pacific Open.
The Danish former World No.1 needed only 75 minutes to complete the rout under the Tokyo sunshine, capturing her first title of the year after losing in six finals.
Third seed Wozniacki stormed through the first set in just 22 minutes, blazing winners past a stunned Pavlyuchenkova. The Russian saved a match point in the 10th game of the second set before Wozniacki converted on her third opportunity, the World No.6 fizzing a backhand pass down the line to claim her 26th career title.
Wozniacki, also Tokyo winner in 2010 and runner-up in 2014, joined former greats Steffi Graf and Gabriela Sabatini with three Pan Pacific Open crowns.
Martina Hingis holds the record with five. Wozniacki, who destroyed World No.1 Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-0 in the semifinals, never gave Pavlyuchenkova a chance in their first meeting since 2012.
There were early warning signs for the Russian after Wozniacki pulled off an outrageous backhand from way outside the court that flashed past the net post and nibbled the line to give her a 3-0 lead in the first set.
As she slumped dejectedly in her chair, Pavlyuchenkova squabbled with coach Simon Goffin. Despite being told not to by her coach, the World No.23 continued to sulk as Wozniacki produced an exquisite drop volley to take the next game and a crunching backhand to claim the set.
Result
Caroline Wozniacki bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0, 7-5
agence france-presse