Wozniacki claims a 30th WTA title at China Open

AUSTRALIAN Open champion Caroline Wozniacki won her 30th WTA singles title as she beat Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-3 in the China Open final yesterday.

The Danish world number two was impressive all week in Beijing, never dropping a set and rarely looking troubled, sealing her spot in the WTA Finals Singapore in the process.

The 28-year-old Wozniacki, who won the China Open in 2010, was once more imperious against the 20th-ranked Sevastova, who briefly retired from tennis in May 2013 with injury.

Wozniacki, whose form has been patchy in the second half of the year, was ruthless on her serve and wrapped up the first set with an overhead smash to underline her superiority.

In the men’s event, Juan Martin del Potro suffered a shock defeat yesterday, losing 6-4, 6-4 to unseeded Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia. It is only the second title of 34th-ranked Basilashvili’s career.

Kei Nishikori’s hopes of a third Japan Open crown were dashed yesterday by Russian qualifier Daniil Medvedev, who crushed the local hero 6-2, 6-4 to play party-pooper.

Medvedev punched well above his world ranking of 32 and overpowered third seed Nishikori in a one-sided Tokyo final, taking just 63 minutes to scoop only his third career title. Nishikori, who won the tournament in 2012 and 2014, had not dropped a set before running into the beefy Russian and came into the match as the overwhelming favorite.

But Medvedev snaffled an early break thanks to a wild backhand from Nishikori, who gift-wrapped the first set to his opponent with a tame doublefault. Nishikori, who won the last of his 11 career titles in Memphis two years ago, continued to struggle as his towering opponent grew in confidence.

The world number 12 never really threatened Medvedev’s serve and went out in a flurry of unforced errors. Medvedev completed the upset with a drilled forehand to join a eyepopping list of Japan winners that includes Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe and Ken Rosewall.