Caroline Wozniacki powers to Pan Pacific title in Tokyo
Caroline Wozniacki v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0 7-5

Caroline Wozniacki powers to Pan Pacific title in Tokyo

24/09/2017

Caroline Wozniacki ended her string of final failures by beating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0 7-5 in Tokyo on Sunday to win her second straight Pan Pacific Open title.

The former world number one, who has now won the event three times, was contesting her seventh final of the season after losing the previous six.

The 27-year-old Dane, seeded third, burst out of the gate behind a strong service game with two aces in a 21-minute first-set rout, looking fresh after her straight-sets win over world number one Garbine Muguruza the previous day.

By contrast, Pavlyuchenkova's gruelling three-set semi-final win over Angelique Kerber appeared to have taken its toll and she struggled with accuracy, registering three double faults in the set.

After being swept aside in the opener, Pavlyuchenkova was far more competitive in the second and held her serve throughout until Wozniacki converted her third match point to break once more and seal victory in the 12th game of the set.

"It was my seventh final of the year and obviously after a while it gets harder and harder to get that last one," Wozniacki said in a courtside interview at the Ariake Coliseum, which will host the tennis events at the 2020 Olympics.

"But I went out there and I just stayed focused and stayed aggressive, especially in the beginning and then it was going my way," added Wozniacki, now ranked sixth in the world.

Overall, Wozniacki sent down six aces and failed to register a double fault or offer up a single break point, while her unseeded opponent coughed up five double faults without managing an ace.

Wozniacki's 26th career title also ensured that the Dane maintained her streak of winning at least one WTA tournament every year since 2008 as she became the fourth player to have captured the Pan Pacific Open title three or more times.

The 26-year-old Pavlyuchenkova had been seeking her third title of the year and the 11th of her career.

Related news

Roger Federer survives five-set test against Marin Cilic to claim 20th Grand Slam title

Roger Federer survives five-set test against Marin Cilic to claim 20th Grand Slam title

Roger Federer cemented his status as the greatest male tennis player of all time by collecting his 20th Grand Slam title courtesy of a 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 6-1 win over Marin Cilic.

Caroline Wozniacki wins first Grand Slam title with epic victory over Simona Halep in Australia

Caroline Wozniacki wins first Grand Slam title with epic victory over Simona Halep in Australia

Caroline Wozniacki won her first Grand Slam title as she beat number one seed Simona Halep in an exhausting and thrilling Australian Open final, coming out 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4.

Magnificent Roger Federer reaches final after Chung Hyeon is forced to retire with blisters

Magnificent Roger Federer reaches final after Chung Hyeon is forced to retire with blisters

Roger Federer has reached the Australian Open final after young pretender Chung Hyeon was forced to retire with the Swiss leading 6-1 5-2 in a one-sided semi-final in Melbourne.

Marin Cilic ends Kyle Edmund dream in one-sided semi-final victory

Marin Cilic ends Kyle Edmund dream in one-sided semi-final victory

Marin Cilic powered his way into the Australian Open final with a 6-2 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 win over Great British hope Kyle Edmund on Rod Laver Arena.

Simona Halep to face Caroline Wozniacki in final after saving match points to deny Angelique Kerber

Simona Halep to face Caroline Wozniacki in final after saving match points to deny Angelique Kerber

Simona Halep saved two match points before completing a 6-3 4-6 9-7 win against Angelique Kerber in an epic Australian Open semi-final in Melbourne.

Caroline Wozniacki survives scare to reach maiden Melbourne final

Caroline Wozniacki survives scare to reach maiden Melbourne final

Caroline Wozniacki came through a late bout of nerves to reach the Australian Open final for a first time with a 6-3 7-6(2) victory over Belgian Elise Mertens on Thursday, giving herself another shot at winning a maiden grand slam title.

Fabulous Federer outclasses Berdych to reach semi-finals

Fabulous Federer outclasses Berdych to reach semi-finals

Roger Federer was in imperious form in overcoming Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-4 in the Australian Open quarter-finals in Melbourne.

Simona Halep hot-streak sees off Karolina Pliskova and sets up Kerber semi-final

Simona Halep hot-streak sees off Karolina Pliskova and sets up Kerber semi-final

A nine-game winning run helped world number one Simona Halep see off Karolina Pliskova in straight sets to set up an Australian Open semi-final against 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.

Hyeon Chung storms into semi-finals after brushing Tennys Sandgren aside

Hyeon Chung storms into semi-finals after brushing Tennys Sandgren aside

Unseeded Korean Hyeon Chung charged into the Australian Open semi-finals after dismissing Tennys Sandgren with a straight-sets 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 victory on Wednesday.

RELATED NEWS

Roger Federer survives five-set test against Marin Cilic to claim 20th Grand Slam title
Roger Federer v Marin Cilic 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 6-1

Roger Federer survives five-set test against Marin Cilic to claim 20th Grand Slam title

Roger Federer cemented his status as the greatest male tennis player of all time by collecting his 20th Grand Slam title courtesy of a 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 6-1 win over Marin Cilic.

Caroline Wozniacki wins first Grand Slam title with epic victory over Simona Halep in Australia
Caroline Wozniacki v Simona Halep 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4

Caroline Wozniacki wins first Grand Slam title with epic victory over Simona Halep in Australia

Caroline Wozniacki won her first Grand Slam title as she beat number one seed Simona Halep in an exhausting and thrilling Australian Open final, coming out 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4.

Magnificent Roger Federer reaches final after Chung Hyeon is forced to retire with blisters
Roger Federer v Chung Hyeon 6-1 5-2 (ret.)

Magnificent Roger Federer reaches final after Chung Hyeon is forced to retire with blisters

Roger Federer has reached the Australian Open final after young pretender Chung Hyeon was forced to retire with the Swiss leading 6-1 5-2 in a one-sided semi-final in Melbourne.

Marin Cilic ends Kyle Edmund dream in one-sided semi-final victory
Marin Cilic v Kyle Edmund 6-2 7-6 (7-4) 6-2

Marin Cilic ends Kyle Edmund dream in one-sided semi-final victory

Marin Cilic powered his way into the Australian Open final with a 6-2 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 win over Great British hope Kyle Edmund on Rod Laver Arena.

Simona Halep to face Caroline Wozniacki in final after saving match points to deny Angelique Kerber
Simona Halep v Angelique Kerber 6-3 4-6 9-7

Simona Halep to face Caroline Wozniacki in final after saving match points to deny Angelique Kerber

Simona Halep saved two match points before completing a 6-3 4-6 9-7 win against Angelique Kerber in an epic Australian Open semi-final in Melbourne.

Caroline Wozniacki survives scare to reach maiden Melbourne final
Caroline Wozniacki v Elise Mertens 6-3 7-6(2)

Caroline Wozniacki survives scare to reach maiden Melbourne final

Caroline Wozniacki came through a late bout of nerves to reach the Australian Open final for a first time with a 6-3 7-6(2) victory over Belgian Elise Mertens on Thursday, giving herself another shot at winning a maiden grand slam title.

Fabulous Federer outclasses Berdych to reach semi-finals
Roger Federer v Tomas Berdych 7-6 6-3 6-4

Fabulous Federer outclasses Berdych to reach semi-finals

Roger Federer was in imperious form in overcoming Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-4 in the Australian Open quarter-finals in Melbourne.

Simona Halep hot-streak sees off Karolina Pliskova and sets up Kerber semi-final
Simona Halep v Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-2

Simona Halep hot-streak sees off Karolina Pliskova and sets up Kerber semi-final

A nine-game winning run helped world number one Simona Halep see off Karolina Pliskova in straight sets to set up an Australian Open semi-final against 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.

Hyeon Chung storms into semi-finals after brushing Tennys Sandgren aside
Hyeon Chung v Tennys Sandgren 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3

Hyeon Chung storms into semi-finals after brushing Tennys Sandgren aside

Unseeded Korean Hyeon Chung charged into the Australian Open semi-finals after dismissing Tennys Sandgren with a straight-sets 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 victory on Wednesday.