World No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki’s small-ball game continues to garner faint praise as she closes the gap with injured world No. 1 Serena Williams — but she keeps on collecting titles and confounding opponents with her consistency and guile in the absence of the Williams sisters, as Venus sits out with a bum knee, and Serena a foot injury.
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On Saturday she collected her fifth title of the year, as the No. 1 seed coming from a set down to defeat No. 7 Elena Dementieva 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 for the Toray Pan Pacific Open championship in Tokyo.

“Elena started really strongly, she was playing very aggressively and I didn’t get enough depth in my groundstrokes,” Wozniacki said of winning only one game in the first set. “But in the beginning of the second set I pressed a little harder and came into the rallies a bit more.”

Wonniacki improved to an impressive 5-1 in finals in 2010.

“I’m very happy — I really enjoy winning and I’m feeling good,” Wozniacki said. “It’s always nice to hold the trophy in your hand, that’s what you are practicing for. I’m feeling very confident and I feel like I’m playing some good tennis, so hopefully next week will be just as good.”

The 20-year-old has the most singles wins on the WTA Tour this year at 54, upping her career mark in finals to 11-7.

Dementieva fell to 2-2 in finals on the year.

“Unfortunately I missed some opportunities in the beginning of the second set and lost a bit of momentum,” Dementieva said. “That was the key…she was fighting and playing solid from the baseline. I’m disappointed with the way I finished the match but I love playing in Tokyo, and even though I lost today I think it was a great final.”

Dementieva added an on-line punters alert that she is beat going into her next event at Beijing.

“I’m a little tired heading to Beijing, but I will fly tonight or tomorrow and try to get ready for one of the biggest events of the season,” she said. “Fingers crossed I can do well there.”

Dementieva fell to 16-16 in career finals, and 3-4 versus Wozniacki.

Wozniacki stands at No. 1 in the Race to the Sony Ericsson Championships Singles Standings, meaning if the season ended today, she would be crowned the year-end No. 1 player.

Women’s tennis fans await the return of the Williams sisters, who are doubtful to compete in a WTA event prior to the year-end championships due to injuries. Wozniacki is 0-2 career vs. Serena, and 0-4 vs. Venus.