Magnificent Wozniacki ends Williams hoodoo to take Singapore title
Caroline Wozniacki ended her Venus Williams hoodoo with a sensational straight-sets victory to claim WTA Finals glory for the first time and the biggest title of her career.
Williams had won all seven of her previous meetings with the sixth seed, but Wozniacki finally got the better of the veteran American to win 6-4 6-4 in Singapore on Sunday.
Wozniacki has taken her game to another level this week and produced another exceptional performance under pressure, ending the season with a huge victory to keep Williams waiting for a 50th WTA singles title.
The Dane, runner-up in this prestigious tournament seven years ago, was rewarded for an aggressive approach and although the evergreen Williams showed great character to claw her way back from 5-0 down in the second set, Wozniacki was able to finish off the job.
.@CaroWozniacki has won the #WTAFinals!
Defeats Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4! pic.twitter.com/7Q0wX95mOh
— WTA (@WTA) October 29, 2017
A vibrant Wozniacki made only eight unforced errors in an all-action display and will surely be challenging for an elusive first grand slam title next year if she can maintain the high standards she has set at the end of a season which has brought her two titles, taking her overall tally to 27.
Wozniacki was rewarded for a bustling start with a break for a 3-1 lead, secured with a fierce forehand winner, but fifth seed Williams unleashed a vicious cross-court backhand to break back immediately.
Another rocket of a forehand gave Wozniacki a break point in the eighth game and the former world number one conjured up another classy winner down the line to end a gripping rally and go 5-3 up.
Both players were producing tennis of the highest order and Williams hit back straight away once again with some brutal winners to get back on serve, but she blazed a forehand long to go a set down after crashing a couple of forehands into the net in a poor service game.
Wozniacki’s speed around the court continued to pose questions of Williams, who thudded a backhand into the net to go 2-0 down in the second set after sending a backhand volley just wide.
Williams was on the ropes and Wozniacki kept coming up with the punches, opening up a 4-0 lead when the 37-year-old was off target with another forehand.
It appeared Williams was beaten, but she showed the sort of spirit and quality which has brought her so much success by reeling off four games in a row, getting the crowd off their seats with a stunning cross-court winner from the baseline to win an epic rally.
Wozniacki called for her coach and father, Piotr, and was soon embracing him after ending Williams’ resistance by flicking away a backhand winner on her second championship point to claim the Billy Jean King Trophy.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Wozniacki [6] bt Williams [5] 6-4 6-4
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Wozniacki – 19/8
Williams – 31/32
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Wozniacki – 4/0
Williams – 4/1
BREAK POINTS WON
Wozniacki – 6/9
Williams –4/6
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
Wozniacki – 63
Williams – 71
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
Wozniacki – 66/43
Williams – 55/30
TOTAL POINTS
Wozniacki – 68
Williams – 57
