Kerber beats Wozniacki to lift WTA Copenhagen title
16 April 2012 6:48 PM GMT
Former World No.1, Caroline Wozniacki saw her winning streak at the Danish Open come to an end as Angelique Kerber of Germany downed the Dane 6-4, 6-4 to clinch the title. Wozniacki had previously won the $220,000 indoor hardcourt tournament in 2010 and 2011, but Kerber brought that winning streak to a halt through her sharply-angled returns and clean forehand smashes, despite committing a number of unforced errors on Sunday.
'I am very glad to win my second (WTA) title. Caroline is a great player, it was a tough match, and I showed all my skills here today,' Kerber said. The contest was closely fought from the start, but it was 24-year-old Kerber, ranked 15, who quickly went up 2-1 in the first set, and put
pressure on the 21-year-old Wozniacki, ranked sixth.
Wozniacki looked rattled and seemed to lose both concentration and rhythm, as Kerber pulled ahead 1-0 in the second set. The match stopped briefly after Wozniacki slipped and hurt her ankle while returning a volley, but she resumed with a bandaged foot and ankle.
The pause helped Wozniacki rally her game, and she pulled ahead 4-1 in the second set, through some expert volleys and placement that sent Kerber racing around the centre court. But Kerber proved resilient, winning a series of break points and five straight games, to wrap up the second set 6-4.
' I knew before the match that I had to give it 100 percent, and I did, and it was a good match played at a high level," said Kerber. The victory brought Kerber her second WTA title overall. It is especially sweet for the German player who previously lost to Wozniacki in the quarter-finals here last year.
This year's defeat was a deep disappointment for Wozniacki who had cruised through the main draw, winning all her matches in straight sets. Sunday's other final match saw Kimiko Date-Krumm and Rika Fujiwara of Japan beat Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson and Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 4-6, (10-5) to lift the doubles title.
'I am very glad to win my second (WTA) title. Caroline is a great player, it was a tough match, and I showed all my skills here today,' Kerber said. The contest was closely fought from the start, but it was 24-year-old Kerber, ranked 15, who quickly went up 2-1 in the first set, and put
pressure on the 21-year-old Wozniacki, ranked sixth.
Wozniacki looked rattled and seemed to lose both concentration and rhythm, as Kerber pulled ahead 1-0 in the second set. The match stopped briefly after Wozniacki slipped and hurt her ankle while returning a volley, but she resumed with a bandaged foot and ankle.
The pause helped Wozniacki rally her game, and she pulled ahead 4-1 in the second set, through some expert volleys and placement that sent Kerber racing around the centre court. But Kerber proved resilient, winning a series of break points and five straight games, to wrap up the second set 6-4.
' I knew before the match that I had to give it 100 percent, and I did, and it was a good match played at a high level," said Kerber. The victory brought Kerber her second WTA title overall. It is especially sweet for the German player who previously lost to Wozniacki in the quarter-finals here last year.
This year's defeat was a deep disappointment for Wozniacki who had cruised through the main draw, winning all her matches in straight sets. Sunday's other final match saw Kimiko Date-Krumm and Rika Fujiwara of Japan beat Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson and Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 4-6, (10-5) to lift the doubles title.
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