Safina triumphs in Madrid
Dinara Safina has reached five WTA finals this year
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Sunday, 17, May 2009 03:57
World number one Dinara Safina beat teenager Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-4 to win the Madrid Open.
The Russian added to her success in Rome last week to win comfortably in her first match against the 18-year-old.
Wozniacki will become the first Dane to enter the top ten of the world rankings when the new list is released on Monday.
And the rising star made the better start after holding her serve and then earning a break point on Safina's opening service game.
But the Dane could not make the most of her chance and she was made to pay for the missed opportunity.
Safina broke in game three before repeating the trick to race into a 4-1 lead.
That soon became 5-1 and although Wozniacki managed to hold her service in the following game, Safina served out the set.
The world number one continued her momentum in the second set with an early break. Wozniacki continued to battle and had three break point chances in game eight.
But Safina survived to serve out the set to clinch her 11th career title.
The 23-year-old said she always felt in control against her inexperienced opponent.
"I was trying to play as aggressively as I could and put her under pressure," Safina said.
"I got a little bit tired by the end of the match but even at the crucial moments I was dominant.
"It was quite a close match because I gave her some chances and there were some chances I didn't take. I might have been in trouble if she'd taken them.
"I had chances for a double break in the second set and I didn't take them but overall I think I controlled the match."