It’s been a frustrating season for the dazzling Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who lines up in her 7th final of the season in Tokyo.
Having lost all previous finals this season, Wozniacki will be determined to overcome the potentially tricky Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Both players earned good semi-final victories over Garbine Murguruza and Angelique Kerber respectively. Wozniacki was a little laboured in her quarterfinal against the stoic Dominika Cibulkova, with the Slovak having to withdraw through injury. However, it has been a week in which the Dane has shown consistent form and is on the way to putting her disappointing US Open showing behind her.
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Caroline Wozniacki v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova head-to-head
The last meeting between this pair was in 2012. Therefore, any head-to-head record must be taken with a pinch of salt. Wozniacki holds a 5-1 lead, but Pavlyuchenkova won the last meeting, at the Cincinnati Masters in 2012.
Pavluchenkova’s strength lies in her ability to hit with blistering pace off both sides. Caroline Wozniacki has been serving with more impetus this tournament and is winning more points off of her first serve. For example, in her last match whereby she dominated Murguruza. Wozniacki achieved 75% of her 1st serve points won. Whereas, in her disappointing US Open 2nd round match against Ekaterina Makarova, her first serve points won percentage was at only 63%. Continued improvement in this area will give Wozniacki the opportunity to quell the potency of the Russian.
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Caroline Wozniacki looks to gain momentum to take into China Open and Potential Maria Sharapova clash
Wozniacki’s improved form makes a potential clash with her new nemesis Maria Sharapova, all the more tantalizing. This will especially be the case if she can secure her first title of the season. Given the way she brushed the world #1 aside in the semis, there is every chance that the Dane could make it 7th time lucky.
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