BEIJING: Caroline Wozniacki defeated Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-3 to win the China Open and her third WTA title of the year on Sunday, while Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia beat top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-4 in the men’s final.

Wozniacki was impressive all week, never dropping a set and rarely looking troubled, sealing her spot in the WTA Finals Singapore in the process.

The 28-year-old, who won her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open at the start of this year, was imperious against the unseeded Sevastova.

It is her second China Open crown — she also won it in 2010 — and 30th overall.

“I’m just happy to have reached 30 today, I’m going to enjoy that,” said Wozni­acki, a former number one.

“As a little kid I had a dream of becoming a professional tennis player, becoming number one in the world. Then after number one in the world, I wanted to win a Slam, then I wanted to lift trophies.

“Having done everything, all of that, it’s pretty amazing. I think I had a dream of that, but I don’t know how realistic I really believed that was going to be.”

Del Potro said that he was battling illness after he suffered a shock defeat in the men’s final as the big-hitting Basilashvili collected his second title of the year after winning in Hamburg.

US Open finalist Del Potro has the consolation of having qualified for the ATP Finals in London next month.

Del Potro was far from his best and has been fighting flu or a cold for several days in the Chinese capital.

“I did everything that I can to be better for the final, it wasn’t enough time to feel 100 percent,” the 30-year-old said. “As you can see, my game today wasn’t as good as it was in the last matches in the tournament. I had some problem the last three days and it affected a little bit my game.”

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2018