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Caroline Wozniacki Versus Svetlana Kuznetsova Dubai final
By Nick Georgandis
© Mark Peterson/Corleve
(February 19, 2011) Already having reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the world, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki is now in pursuit of her first title of 2011, having defeated Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday.
Wozniacki will take on 16th-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova for the title on Sunday. Kuznetsova knocked off 11th-seeded Flavia Pennetta, 6-4, 6-4.
It was Wozniacki's first win in five tries against Jankovic, having lost to her last year in the final at Indian Wells. The pair put up virtually identical statistics in the first set, but Wozniacki's second break of Jankovic proved to be the difference.
In the second set, Wozniacki broke Jankovic's serve three times and was successful on second return points with 10 in 12 attempts to take the victory in 107 minutes. The new No. 1 player in the world is in pursuit of her first title since winning at Beijing last October.
Kuznetsova, meanwhile, continues to move closer and closer to her previous Top 5 form. The two-time Grand Slam winner is through to her first final since winning at San Diego last summer.
After faltering in the second round at Dubai a year ago, Kuznetsova will gain at least 550 points for reaching the final, and could add as many as 830 if she wins Sunday.
A 550-point bump would have her near the Top 15 come Monday - she's presently 23rd, while a title could see her rise into the Top 12.
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