Caroline finally beats Venus

SINGAPORE: Former World No 1 Caroline Wozniacki ended her career-long jinx against Venus Williams in spectacular style to lift the WTA Finals trophy for the first time yesterday.

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

Caroline had some nervy moments after 37-year-old Venus, 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.

“I am so happy I managed to win in the end,” Caroline said. “Eight is my lucky number. If I was going to beat her (Venus) once in my career, it had to be today.

“It is really sweet, I couldn’t be happier right now.”

Caroline has been in brilliant, aggressive form in Singapore, beating Elina Svitolina and Simona Halep at the group stage and Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals.

Venus was denied a 50th career triumph and first for the year, having finished runner-up at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. She will remain the World No 5 after playing in her first WTA Finals since 2009.

Earlier, World No 3 pairing Timea Babos and Andrea Hlavackova won the WTA Finals doubles title on their debut with a 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 comeback victory over Kiki Bertens and Johanna Larsson. AFP