With only one month left until the final WTA showdown of the season will take place in Singapore at the WTA Finals, the women's circuit made it through another interesting week of tennis, this time as part of the Asian leg of the regular season. The Premier event in Tokyo had the defending champion Caroline Wozniacki succeeding in her quest to keep those points from 2016 in the vault as the 27-year-old Dane completed her defense task. Nearby, in Seoul, South Korea, Jelena Ostapenko put her grip on a second WTA title of the career and the first success since making that surreal breakthrough earlier this year at 2017 French Open.
It's good news to have the young Latvian tennis star adding up to her legacy.
Caroline Wozniacki wins that elusive WTA title
One thing is certain when it comes to Wozniacki, and that is her willingness to keep her level high for so long. Entering the Premier event in Tokyo, she was 6-0 in the WTA finals' counter in 2017. Losing six opportunities in a row didn't stop her from breaking the ice when the seventh occasion occurred. Cruising past the current world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza in the semis 6-2 6-0 she used that swing of momentum to cap her first success in 2017. On the other side of the net stood Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who got past Angelique Kerber in the previous round.
Having their first encounter after more than five years in-between, Wozniacki and her Russian opponent entered the final with big expectations.
Playing a thrilling three-set match over Kerber in the semis didn't help Pavlyuchenkova in the fitness compartment. A bit deflated in the opening act; she went on losing it by 6-0 giving a comfortable lead to Wozniacki. The second act was a bit different even though the third seed from Denmark kept her grip on the match. Saving two match points didn't help the Russian to produce a comeback as the Dane converted the third championship opportunity she had.
Jelena Ostapenko captures Seoul title
At 20 years of age and with a Grand Slam singles title already under her belt, Jelena Ostapenko might be a future ruler of the WTA professional circuit. Her ability to produce winners from every given point of the tennis court fades away as she is yet to find a way to channel all those negative emotions.
But, this time, she pulled it through edging Beatriz Haddad Maia, a 21-year-old left-handed player fro Brazil ranked as the world No. 71. Despite losing the inaugural set on a tie-break, Ostapenko bounced back to win the second one by 6-1. The decisive act had the rewards going into the most aggressive player's pocket. An inside-out forehand winner sealed the deal as Ostapenko is the new champion of the WTA International event in Seoul.
