Djokovic, Wozniacki capture titles in China Open
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Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, the top-seed women's singles, crowned in the China Open finals in Beijing on Monday. [Sina] |
Reigning champion Novak Djokovic beat Spanish eighth seed David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4 in the rain-interrupted final match, successfully to defend his title.
Djokovic also became the first man having defended the China Open singles title since the tournament was launched in 2004.
"I am just happy to win another tournament and make my record here in Beijing event better. It's definitely one of the most successful tournament in my career," said Djokovic in the post- match news conference.
The top-seeded Djokovic was leading 3-1 in the first set when the final was intermitted because of a fitful rain on Sunday night. The Serb continued his solid form as the match resumed on Monday, breaking Ferrer again in the sixth game to close the opening set 6- 2.
Ferrer, No. 11, tried to fight back in the second set, grabbing his first break of the match in the fifth game to 4-2.
After five duces, Djokovic, 23, converted his second break points of the eighth game to tie with Ferrer 4-4. Djokovic then quickly won a love game before earning three match points in the tenth game when Ferrer was serving.
Although Ferrer managed to save one thanks to his powerful serve, he could not stop the Serb from clinching the one hour, 24 minutes victory and leading their head-to-head record 5-4.
In the women's singles final later, world No. 1 Wozniacki notched the title by beating Russia's second seed Vera Zvonareva 2- 1. The 20-year-old defeated Zvonareva 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to take her sixth title of the season.
It was a repeat of the U.S. Open semifinal when the 26-year-old Zvonareva eliminated the Dane 6-4, 6-3 to finish runner-up of the Grand Slam tournament.
The Russian remained sharp when the Monday'match started, breaking Wozniacki in the third game to took a 2-1 lead.
Wozniacki, who just overtook Serena Williams to seize the top position of the WTA rankings after passed the third round of China Open, gradually controlled the rhythm and broke the opponent in the sixth and eighth games respectively.
As Zvonareva's forehand return went out of the baseline in the ninth game, the first seed finished off the opening set 6-3.
Zvonareva was more familiar with the Lotus court, as the Russian won a bronze medal during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which were also held in the National Tennis Certer in Beijing. She rallied to fight back in the second set, converting her sole break opportunities while leaving no chance of break to the Dane in the whole set.
The match remained close when it came to the final set. Wozniacki seized her only chance of break in the second game, taking the first Premier Mandatory title in her career after clinching the two hours, four minutes victory.
