DEFENDING CHAMPION CAROLINE Wozniacki lost in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, falling to Julia Goerges 7-6 (3), 7-5 Friday.
The former-top-ranked Dane led 4-2 in the second set, but Goerges rallied to advance in straight sets.
“I didn’t play my best game today,” Wozniacki said. “Made way too many unforced errors, and Julia took advantage of that.”
Goerges will face Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in Saturday’s final. Radwanska defeated Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-2, 2-6, 6-0.
Wozniacki, who has undertaken a Lenten dietary challenge with boyfriend Rory McIlroy (under penalty of a costly forfeit, the pair have agreed to abstain from white bread, chocolate, ice cream, fried food, cakes and alcohol), said she struggled with her serve throughout the match, while Goerges never let her find her rhythm once the ball was in play.
“I felt I had all the opportunities in the world today and didn’t take advantage of them. If you don’t take your chances, there is no way to win,” Wozniacki said. “It’s easy to say I should have done this and could have done that. But, you know, as well for Julia she took her chances. If I came with a weak shot, she was there straight away and she punished me.”
The fifth-seeded Radwanska took an early 4-1 lead and won the first set in 33 minutes. The Polish player faltered in the second when Jankovic broke twice.
Radwanska regrouped and wrapped up the match without losing another game. She said she regained her confidence by breaking early in the third set.
“She just start to play much better in the second set. I was really in trouble,” Radwanska said. “But in the third set, I was just trying to be focused on my game and just fight until the end.
“I really get more confident after that, and I think she get a bit angry.”
- additonal reporting from the AP
