To have Caroline Wozniacki in another final of a WTA event is common news, especially during the 2017 season. Currently ranked sixth in the world, the 27-year-old Dane and the former world No. 1 twice in the past is one match away from completing her defense work in at Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan. She got past the current world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza to secure a spot in the last act where Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova awaits. The Russian ended Angelique Kerber's run surviving a three sets thrilling battle. For Wozniacki, it might be just time to win that elusive first WTA title in 2017.
It's her seventh appearance in a final this season, and the curse may finally end. Moreover, it's her fourth final in Tokyo as she went on winning it twice (2010 and 2016).
Wozniacki cruised past a deflated world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza
The 23-year-old Spaniard made her very first appearance as the world No. 1 in Tokyo, at Toray Pan Pacific Open. Despite having a strong start, she went on losing to Wozniacki in two very one-sided sets of tennis. The defending champion, Wozniacki didn't let anything to chance and crushed her opponent by 6-2 6-0. For Muguruza it's the worst defeat since losing to Barbora Strycovaby 6-1 6-0 prior to Wimbledon while on the other side, Wozniacki seems eager to cement her legacy at this WTA Premier tournament.
For Muguruza, it's just the beginning of a difficult journey. As the new world No. 1, she will walk with a target on her back as any other player would want to make a great match against the world leader.
Angelique Kerber unable to get the job done, Pavlyuchenkova stepped in to steal the show
The third seed in the main draw, she will take on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova next.
The unseeded Russian ranked 23rd in the world put an end to Kerber's rejuvenating story. She went on stunning the German at the end of a three-set encounter. The opening set saw Kerber unable to pose a decent threat to her opponent who entered in a cruising mode to seal the deal by 6-0 in just 20 minutes of play.
The second set was a different business as Kerber got her grip on the match.
It all went down to a tie-break where the German's superior experience factor decided the winner. The third set saw the Russian with a slow start. On the other side, keeping up the momentum from the previous set, Kerber raced to a quick 3-0 lead only to see her work reduced to nothing due to a strange turnaround of the match. Racing from behind, Pavlyuchenkova completed the comeback to win by 6-4 thus claiming a spot in the final.
In head to head stats, Wozniacki leads Pavlyuchenkova by 5-1 even though five years have passed since their last official meeting.
