Wozniacki beats Stosur to win Kremlin Cup title

Moscow: Caroline Wozniacki won her 20th career title by beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in the final of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Sunday.

The former top-ranked Dane has fallen to No. 11 but is showing signs of returning to her best after also winning in Seoul in September for her first title of the year.

She dominated early against Stosur but then looked to be in trouble after the Australian levelled the match and then broke to love in the first game of the third set.

But Wozniacki fought back to level at 3-all broke again in the last game when Stosur sent a backhand wide on the Dane’s second match point.

“At the right times I managed to win the right points,” she said. “I tried to stay aggressive and stay close to the line and just dictate. But she played well and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”

Stosur was playing in her second final this season after also being a runner-up in Doha, and is 3-12 in WTA finals.

Wozniacki has not qualified for the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul, but can return to the top 10 in the rankings if she wins the Tournament of the Champions, which starts October 30 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

“I definitely think I played some great tennis up there,” Wozniacki said when asked if she was showing the same form as when she was No. 1.

“And I’m pleased about the way I’ve been playing at this tournament.”