HONG KONG—Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark won the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2016 beating Kristina Mladenovic of France in the final on Sunday Oct 16, but it was not at all easy sailing for Wozniacki as she needed 3 sets to complete the task.
The experienced Wazniacki had few difficulties in the 1st set taking the set in style 6-1, but it was a different matter in the 2nd set as Mladenovic hit back dominating many of the games and winning the set 7-6. She won the tiebreaker with Wasniacki taking just 4 points.
Mladenovic started well in the 2nd set winning her first 2 service games and then broke Wazniacki to lead 3-1. Wozniacki returned the compliment for 3-2 but Mladenovic moved back in front securing the next game against serve to move to 4-2.
Mladenovic’s game faltered and Wozniacki capitalized winning the next 2 games to level the games at 4-4. Mladenovic reopened a gap to 5-4 but could not force the deciding game for the set. Wazniacki served to force a tiebreaker after Mlaadenovic had again pushed ahead to 6-5.
Mladenovic played well in the 2nd set tiebreaker, always ahead and taking the last two points to win the breaker 7-4. One set all!
Mladenovic had been in good form in the second set, largely in control and making Wozniacki struggle. She had lulled Wozniaki into her game and she was winning the duel. But this did not last and Wozniacki regrouped and took the 3rd set 6-2 and the match 6-1, 6-7, 6-2.
Mladenovic went off court for some strapping on the right leg at the end of the first set, but whether she had picked up an injury was not clear. She certainly continued to move well, showed power and played some intelligent rallies in the 2nd set. In the 3rd set Mladenovic operated in one of 2 modes, at times she moved very slowly and looked tired then on other occasions she sparked into life again moving well and playing some super shots.
It was not a great final but it was an interesting match with many twists and turns that kept the crowd entertained for 2hrs 40mins. After the 1st set it looked like Wozniacki would breeze through the 2nd to take the title, but the reverse happened. After completion of the second set it looked like Mladenovic had secured an advantage and would do well in the deciding set but Wozniacki dominated and won the set 2-6.
Caption: Bill Cox/Epoch Time
Caroline Wozniacki won the Hong Kong Open on her first appearance in the event.
Doubles
The doubles final between Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan and Naomi Broady and Heather Watson of Great Britain was won by the Taiwan pair. The first set was equal at 3-3, but the Chinese players then moved ahead winning the next 3 games to take the 1st set 6-3. The Taiwanese team only dropped one game in the 2nd set winning the set and the match 6-3, 6-1.
