WOWZNIACKI!

Carolina clinches first WTA Finals trophy by beating Venus

Singapore, Oct. 29: Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki ended her career-long jinx against Venus Williams in spectacular style to lift the WTA Finals trophy for the first time on Sunday.

Earlier, world number three pairing Timea Babos and Andrea Hlavackova won the WTA Finals doubles title on debut with a 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 comeback victory over Kiki Bertens and Johanna Larsson.

Bertens and Larsson, had the edge early but the match turned when the Hungarian-Czech pairing broke in a marathon seventh game of the second set.

The Dane had won just one set from seven harrowing defeats to Williams but she turned the tables with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in 89 minutes at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Wozniacki had some nervy moments after 37year-old Williams, the tournament’s oldest ever finalist, clawed her way back from 0-5 down in the second set.

But she kept her cool to seal victory with a backhand down the line, throwing her racquet into the air and holding her hands to her face in disbelief.

After an even start, she seized control of the final by breaking four straight times across the sets to lead 5-0 in the second set.

But with the title in her sights, Wozniacki was unable to serve it out in the seventh game and the ninth, when Williams produced an astounding crosscourt winner to win her fourth straight game.

But Wozniacki finally triumphed in the 10th game with her backhand winner to celebrate in style. Williams, looked increasingly weary as the match wore on after playing a gruelling, three-set semifinal against Caroline Garcia.

Wozniacki tried to extend rallies while bighitting opponent attempted to shorten points through sheer power and rushes to the net.

Wozniacki broke three times in first set and took one-set lead when Williams played loose game at 4-5 down just she second set she had ever conceded to the Dane.

Wozniacki flourished in Singapore, with a tough three-set defeat to Caroline Garcia her only slip-up. It completed a comeback season for the two-time Grand Slam finalist, who endured an injury-marred 2016 and finished ranked number 19. — AFP

Simona Halep (above) of Romania poses with her WTA year-end world number one trophy at the WTA Finals tennis tournament in Singapore on Sunday. Below: WTA chief executive officer Steve Simon presents a gift to Switzerland’s Martina Hingis on her...