SINGAPORE (AFP) – A tenacious Caroline Wozniacki revived her WTA Finals title defense with a third set masterclass against Petra Kvitova on Tuesday, leaving the former Wimbledon champion’s Singapore campaign in danger.
Rebounding from a disappointing opening defeat against Karolina Pliskova, Wozniacki wore down Kvitova to triumph 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and 19 minutes.
Kvitova has now lost both her matches but she is still afloat in the White Group after Elina Svitolina defeated Karolina Pliskova in three sets.
An undefeated Svitolina is in pole position to qualify for the semis, needing only to clinch one set in her final match against Wozniacki on Thursday.
Kvitova mixed trademark power with exquisite touch but was matched by Wozniacki’s dogged counterattacks.
The Dane recovered from an injury scare, where she needed taping to her left knee early in the second set, and showcased her athleticism in a dominant third set to outlast Kvitova.
Wozniacki, the Australian Open champion, had the better start and broke in the ninth game – her first of the tournament after botching 10 break points against Pliskova – then earned another break in the 12th game to draw first blood.
There were three breaks to start the second set before Kvitova held and unleashed a roar as she skipped out to a 3-1 lead.
Wozniacki needed a medical timeout and the six-minute break seemingly halted Kvitova’s momentum but the Czech regrouped and levelled it up emphatically with a sliced backhand winner.
The match took a turn in the third with Wozniacki breaking immediately and then wearing down a fading Pliskova, who at one point threw her racquet in disgust.
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