By Adrianna Outlaw | Sunday, October 16, 2016
A resurgent Caroline Wozniacki topped Kristina Mladenovic, 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-2, in the Hong Kong final to capture her second title of the season.
Photo credit: Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open
Caroline Wozniacki has transformed the fall season into a personal renaissance.
The fifth-seeded Wozniacki beat back Kristina Mladenovic, 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-2, to capture her 25th career title at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.
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It was Wozniacki's second title in a month.
The former world No. 1 defeated Agnieszka Radwanska and Naomi Osaka in succession to win the Tokyo title last month.
Wozniacki stormed out to a 5-0 lead in today's final before Mladenovic finally held to prevent the bagel. Wozniacki served out the set.
Despite serving just 41 percent and taking an injury timeout in the second set, Mladenovic hung tough. The 54th-ranked Frenchwoman prevailed in the tie break to force a decider.
Wozniacki converted three of six break points rolling through the decider to wrap up a two hour, 40-minute victory.
Since the start of the US Open, Wozniacki has won 19 of her last 22 matches with her only losses in that span coming to US Open champion Angelique Kerber in the Flushing Meadows semifinals and to the third-ranked Radwanska in Beijing and Wuhan.
That surge has raised Wozniacki's ranking from No. 74 at the start of the US Open to her current spot of No. 22.