Wozniacki back in top 20 with Hong Kong win

HONG KONG: Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki captured her 25th career Tour title when she beat unseeded Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 6-7(4) 6-2 in

HONG KONG: Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki captured her 25th career Tour title when she beat unseeded Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 6-7(4) 6-2 in the Hong Kong Open final on Sunday. The 26-year-old Wozniacki, who will now move back into the world’s top 20, has been in fine form, winning 19 of her last 22 matches, but was pushed to her limits by Mladenovic during an intense two-hour-40-minute final.

HT Image

Wozniacki, who won the Pan Pacific Open last month, held her nerve in a tough match to claim her second Tour title of the year.

“I’m really pleased with my week, there was some good tennis and long battles,” Wozniacki told reporters.

PENG WINS TIANJIN OPEN

BEIJING: China’s Peng Shuai won her first WTA Tour title after beating America’s Alison Riske to secure the Tianjin Open. Peng — 182nd in the world — beat the 56th-ranked American 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 in an hour and 45 minutes. Riske’s victory in the 2014 Tianjin Open remains her only WTA Tour win.

TOP-SEED YUKI OUSTED

HOUSTON: Yuki Bhambri fought hard before losing the singles semifinals of the Houston Cup, a $25,000 ITF Futures event, to American Wil Spencer.

The top seeded Indian, who is making a comeback to the competitive tennis after a six-month injury break, lost 2-6, 6-4, 5-7 to his unseeded rival.

JEEVAN, RAMKUMAR LOSE

HO CHI MINH: Jeevan Nedunch-ezhiyan and Ramkumar Ramanathan finished runners-up at the ATP Vietnam Open, losing the final to top seeded Thai pair of Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana on Sunday. The fourth seeded Indians lost 5-7 4-6 to the brothers in the $50,000 hard court event. agencies