Caroline Wozniacki has ended a more than a year long title drought by taking the Korea Open, which has upgraded from a $220,000 event to $500,000. In the 62-minute final, the top seed lost just one game, while her third-seeded opponent, Kaia Kanepi, held serve just once. Score: 6-1 6-0.
Before the title match, Wozniacki defeated Arantxa Rus 6-1 6-2 in the first round, Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-3 in the second, seventh seed Klara Zakopalova 6-1 7-6(6) in the quarterfinals and eighth seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 5-7 6-4 in the semis.
The Seoul title is Wozniacki’s 19th, and she’s actually lagging behind only multiple Grand Slam champions Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova in the number of WTA titles among active players.
As for Kanepi, her quick loss in the final should not put a shadow over her amazing week. The Korea Open was her first tournament since Roland Garros quarterfinals (in the third round she upset Wozniacki!) and the Achilles injury problems. (source: WTA Tour, photo: © Neal Trousdale)
Finally a title! It’s been more that a year. At least she has secured a ticket for Sofia although I think that her ambitions are probably higher.