Wozniacki on top of world

Oct 30, 2010 |

Doha, Oct. 29: Caroline Wozniacki secured the year-end number one spot in the world ranking, becoming the first ever Dane to do so, but only after suffering an early fright at the WTA Tour Championships here.

For an hour, the 20-year-old top seed seemed in danger of going out of the event, until she worked out the clever tactical patterns of Francesca Schiavone, the French Open champion from Italy, and triumphed 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Not until midway through the second set did that happen as Wozniacki swapped containment for going on the offensive against Schiavone, who mixed topspin with slice, slow-balling with pace, and net attacks with base-lining, all with equal facility. Twice Wozniacki’s father-coach Piotr came to the courtside, where he knelt before his daughter to offer unusually animated advice.

It seemed to help, although the fourth and the fifth games of the third set were also fiercely contested and pivotal in preventing a Schiavone comeback. “This is something I have dreamed about since I was a little girl,” said Wozniacki, who will become the youngest year-end number one since Martina Hingis in 2000.

Meanwhile, Elena Dementieva announced her retirement after bowing out of the WTA Championships on Friday. Dementieva, who struggled with injuries this year was eliminated on Thursday. After losing to Francesca Schiavone 4-6, 2-6, she made her announcement in a tearful ceremony surrounded by her peers.

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