Wozniacki, Arruabarrena, Tsurenko Win WTA Titles Over Weekend

Former No. 1 Wozniacki Wins 1st Title of Year at Tokyo
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Caroline Wozniacki won her first title of the season on Sunday in Tokyo when the former world No. 1 defeated Japanese rising star Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3.

“I just wanted to go out and enjoy it,” Wozniacki said of the championship match. “It’s the final and both of us had great weeks. We both wanted to go out there and play well.”

Osaka twice led by a service break in the contest.

“She’s going to be a great player, already rising in the rankings so fast,” Wozniacki said. “I’ve no doubt we’ll see her in many, many more finals.”

Wozniacki improved to 24-17 in finals, while Osaka lost her career first final.

Spain’s Arruabarrena Wins 2nd Career Title at WTA Seoul

Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena won her second crown of the year on Sunday in Seoul, beating Monica Niculescu 6-0, 2-6, 6-0 for the Korea Open Tennis in Seoul.

Four years ago it was clay, this time it was hardcourt as Arruabarrena topped the slicing-and-dicing Romanian who she had lost to in their most previous meeting.

Niculescu fought off a match point before succumbing in the back-and-forth match.

Arruabarrena in the semis defeated Patricia Maria Tig 6-1, 6-2, derailing an all-Romanian final.

The 22-year-old Arruabarrena improved to 2-0 in career finals, as Niculescu fell to 2-4.

Tsurenko Upsets Former No. 1 Jankovic for Guangzhou Title

The Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko won her second career title on Sunday, beating former world No. 1 and No. 2 seed Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to win the Guangzhou International Women’s Open title.

Jankovic chose to also play the doubles after attempting a comeback from injury, reaching the semis with Martina Hingis.

“It’s tough, because this tournament took a lot of energy out of me,” said Jankovic, coming back from a shoulder injury. “It’s so hot and humid here, and also when you take into consideration that it’s only my second tournament on hardcourt because I’m coming back from an injury.”

Tsurenko won her last title in Istanbul in 2015.

“I think today I played really good tennis, except maybe in the second set when I felt a little bit tired,” Tsurenko said. “But I said to myself that I have to give it all in the final set, and I was fighting for each point. I had to give 100 percent to win this title.”

Tsurenko improved to 2-0 in career finals, while Janovic fell to 15-21.