DUBAI, Feb 20 — Caroline Wozniacki reached the final of the Dubai tennis championships by beating Serbian sixth seed Jelena Jankovic 7-5, 6-3 yesterday.

The top seed from Denmark, who will return to the top of the world rankings next week, will face 16th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final today after the Russian defeated 11th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-4.

Jankovic made the more positive start, breaking Wozniacki's serve to love as she built up a 3-0 lead and then holding off two break points when leading 4-2.

However, she failed to take advantage of four set points as she led 5-3, before Wozniacki recovered the break by rushing her opponent into a forehand error.

Wozniacki broke again to lead 6-5 and held off two break points as she served out the set.

Jankovic, who had been taken to three sets in her previous two matches, clearly began to tire in the second set, and an exchange of three consecutive breaks left Wozniacki leading 4-3.

Once again Jankovic held but failed to convert two break points as Wozniacki held for 5-3, and the Dane then broke to love in the next game to seal her victory.

"I didn't think about the score," Wozniacki told reporters when asked about being set points down. "I just felt, 'Okay, just hit the ball. Just make her win the point. Just play aggressively. You have to dictate. If you make a mistake, fine, that's what happens. But don't just put the ball in because you're done'."

Third final

Jankovic admitted that she had not played her set points well and said her recent long matches had taken their toll.

"I had those set points and I kind of rushed a little bit," she said. "I didn't really take my time and play those points. But she was very solid and she ran a lot of balls down.

"Obviously, you know, I'm a little bit exhausted. The last couple of days took a lot out of me and maybe it showed today."

Kuznetsova will be seeking her first Dubai title after reaching the final for the third time.

She defeated Pennetta after being behind for much of the match. The Italian broke for 2-1, held off a break point in the next game but allowed Kuznetsova to level at 3-3 when she netted a forehand. Kuznetsova then broke again to take the set on her fourth set point.

In the second set, Pennetta broke serve three times but Kuznetsova was able to break back immediately on each occasion. The Russian eventually held serve to lead 5-4, and then broke Pennetta for the fourth time in the set to claim victory.

"It was a difficult match, difficult conditions," Kuznetsova said. "I was trying to be aggressive. You have to realize when you try to be aggressive you're going to do a few unforced errors." — Reuters

 

PACIFIC PALISADES, California, Feb 20 — Australian Aaron Baddeley yesterday charged past PGA Tour veteran Fred Couples with a sizzling front nine to grab a one-shot lead after the third round of the Northern Trust Open.

Two strokes behind the pacesetting Couples when the delayed second round was completed earlier in the day, Baddeley fired a four-under-par 67 to take control at Riviera Country Club.

The 29-year-old Australian, who has triumphed twice on the PGA Tour but not since the 2007 Phoenix Open, raced to the turn in four-under 31 before posting a 10-under total of 203.

Fan favourite Couples, defying back pain in pursuit of his first victory on the US circuit in eight years, carded a 70 to share second place with fellow American Kevin Na (67).

Former world No. 1 Vijay Singh of Fiji was a further stroke back at eight under after two birdies in the last three holes earned him a 67.

Couples, long beloved at Riviera where he has won twice, made a good start to the third round, a two-putt birdie at the par-five first keeping him two strokes ahead of the chasing pack at nine under.

However, he was unable to pick up any further shots before reaching the turn one behind the charging Baddeley.

Scorching nine

The Australian had rolled in a 30-footer to birdie the ninth and edge one stroke clear at 10-under after a scorching outward nine that began with a 40-foot birdie putt at the first.

He then picked up another shot at the par-four 10th, where his drive ended up just short of the green, to double his lead.

Although Baddeley collected his only bogey of the day at the par-five 11th, where his first three shots ended up in the right rough, he parred the last seven holes to stay in front.

Singh, who won the most recent of his 34 PGA Tour titles at the 2008 Deutsche Bank Championship, liked his chances going into today's final round at Riviera.

"I'm really fired up for tomorrow," the 47-year-old Fijian said. "I know I have a good position, I'm in a good position to win tomorrow, so we'll see what happens.

"I'm getting it together. I'm hitting more solid shots than I did last year. But I need rounds like this to keep me going."

American world No. 4 Phil Mickelson, winner here in 2008 and 2009, dropped out of contention with a 74 that left him a distant 12 strokes off the pace. — Reuters